Argentina’s passion for ‘el Fútbol’ is encapsulated in the Nuévo Gasometro, the as heavenly as it is hellish den of San Lorenzo de Almagro. In the home of the ‘Ciclón’, the relationship between the South American soul and the ‘Beautiful Game’ is elevated between sacredness and illogicality. The Copa América has started, and we can listen to the testimony and look at the images of Basile Bertrand, a French photographer who, thanks to his deep ultras knowledge, managed to breathe the air of the ‘Popular’: where the love for San Lorenzo becomes madness. And where South American football shows itself in all its magic.

What photographic path led you to portray the San Lorenzo fans?

“Photography and football have been with me for as long as I can remember. I discovered photography as a young child, following my friends at the playground or skatepark with my camera. It wasn’t until I was 17, during a trip with my parents to Morocco, that I realized I wanted to be a documentary photographer. Then I studied in Paris, at the Ecole Nationale des Arts Décoratifs too, and in my spare time I started portraying friends in the suburbs. The world of streetwear reached out to me naturally, and a couple of years ago I started working as a professional photographer and shooting campaigns (Carhartt WIP, Maison Kitsuné, Salomon and K-Way are some examples of his clients – ed.). Part of my photographic production, however, has always been and continues to be connected to the ultras subculture. Years ago I was a big Paris Saint Germain fan, traveling all over the country, and the stands vibes inspired a lot of my research on Italian ‘tifosi’ and English ‘hooligans’… Then I stopped following PSG, but the passion for the ultras universe kept going on.”

Why did you choose the ‘Ciclón’ and how did you experience the impact with the energy of the Nuévo Gasometro?

“The Argentine hinchadas were obviously part of my research. The rivalry and history of Boca and River are fantastic, but they are very well known. San Lorenzo is something different. So I decided to go study in Buenos Aires for a few months, and after watching two matches at the Bombonera, I visited the Nuévo Gasometro. At the Bombonera it was difficult to take pictures, I wasn’t surrounded by a good mood, while at the Nuévo Gasometro there was a different vibe…. I became a ‘member’ of the club and joined ‘Popular’. The first few matches I was a little afraid, because it is not easy to be a photographer among this kind of fans. In Paris, for example, I couldn’t photograph in the ultras zone. The atmosphere at the Gasometro, however, was immediately incredible. So many people greeted me speaking in Spanish, they asked me why I was there. They were sincerely interested. After 4-5 games I already had friends. “We love football and we love the same club,” they would tell me, “We can be friends.” All that mattered to them was that I was there in order to support San Lorenzo. After I built that relationship, I started carrying the camera without any problems. I can say that to this day I still feel like a San Lorenzo fan.”

What kind of images did you want to capture, and what is the most iconic moment of your Argentinian football experience?

“There are not many photographers focused on ultras or hooligan culture. So, I still have no reference points or models to follow. Inside the stadium I tried and still try to photograph details or moments that no one has ever seen. The most significant moment was definitely a child being lifted up by his father. The story of this shot is funny, when I first saw the scene, I couldn’t take the picture…. But an elderly fan saw me and asked the father to lift his son again. The child must have been less than a year old…. “The ‘gringo’ wants to take your picture,” he told him. So, the father lifted his little son into the air, and I was able to portray that magical moment. That scene represents the mindset of South American, Argentine and San Lorenzo fans. I really don’t know what to say, thinking back to that instant of football ecstasy.”