by Ruth Kunstadter

Ruth Kunstadter is an American teacher, writer, and producer of multi-media materials that teach Spanish while celebrating Latino culture and heritage in the United States. She is working on a book entitled, "The Bilingual Soul." For more on Ruth's writing and projects, visit her blog, La Tertulia - http://www.chispaproductions.blogspot.com and her website, Chispa Productions - http://www.chispaproductions.com.

The stadium shook as the passionate crowd seemed to unite in one resounding voice at the US-Argentina Copa America soccer match in Maracaibo on June 28. A chant was taking hold, and it grew louder and louder as people joined in, clapping and stomping their feet at the same time.

At first, I couldn’t understand what they were saying. The chant had started on the other side of the stadium, in one of the 'popular' sections. But as it gained force and moved around to where we were sitting, it became clear.

They were chanting, 'RCTV! RCTV! RCTV!'

In late May, Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez shut down Venezuela's oldest and most-watched television network, RCTV, saying it sought to undermine his government. Recent polls show that between 70% and 80% of Venezuelans oppose the closing of the station. These figures seemed to be reflected loudly and clearly in the chants coming from the stands. And for a few minutes, even though the game was in full swing, no one was paying attention to the field.

The chant quieted down. But soon a new, louder one arose: 'Libertad! Libertad! Libertad!'

On the field, the Argentine team was dazzling the US with its lightning-fast footwork – but no one was watching. Instead, people were looking around at each other, the majority chanting and clapping together, united in passion and purpose.

In a few minutes, the crowd calmed down again, and seemed to return to the business of watching the game. But the chants weren’t finished. There was one more left – this one, a song that swept through the stadium and reverberated into the night:

'Se va a caer, se va caer, este gobierno va a caer!' ('It’s going to fall, it’s going to fall, this government is going to fall'.)

The crowd had made its point, and finally the public’s attention returned to the field to watch the end of the game. (Final score: Argentina 4, US 1.)

I went to the Copa America game fully expecting the US team to be booed. The Venezuelan government makes no secret of its disdain for the US and its policies, and quite honestly, much of that disdain is based on a history of some highly indefensible actions on the part of the US in the region. In fact, as a result of that history - and some current policies as well - anti-Americanism can be considered another popular sport in much of Latin America.

So I was ready for the boos. But they never came. Instead, the US was greeted with polite applause. (Of course, the roaring cheers were reserved for the Argentines). The only hoots, whistles and boos came when a parachutist with a flag saying 'PDVSA' – the Venezuelan national oil company, associated with the Chávez government – landed.

There were many goals scored during the Argentina-US match, and many chances for the crowd to leap to its feet, screaming 'GOOOOOOOOOL!' – which they did, deliriously.

But they had something else to say, too.

And in this match, perhaps the most important points were made not on the field, but in the stands. At the Copa America game between Argentina and the US on June 28, the people may have scored the loudest goal.