Copa Libertadores final postponed due to attack on team bus, players (PHOTOS)
The decisive second leg of the Copa Libertadores final has been called off after fans of River Plate attacked the Boca Juniors team coach and injured players as they made their way to El Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires.
South America's football federation, CONMEBOL, confirmed the game between the Argentine capital's fiercest rivals to decide the biggest trophy on the continent will be put back 24 hours and will now take place on Sunday.
News breaks game is off. pic.twitter.com/co52rH1D6H
— Jonathan Wilson (@jonawils) November 24, 2018
“One can’t play in these conditions,” CONMEBOL president Alejandro Dominguez told journalists, Reuters reported.
The drama unfolded when River Plate fans attacked the Boca team coach, throwing missiles as the vehicle, smashing several windows and injuring the players inside.
UPDATE: #CopaLibertadores final 2nd leg DELAYED by one hour after Boca Juniors team bus destroyed by Rover Plate fans, players affected by tear gas (VIDEO/PHOTOS)🇦🇷 #Boca#River| https://t.co/dPiELmYNID |
— RT Sport (@RTSportNews) November 24, 2018
Players also suffered the effects of tear gas used by police to disperse the crowds. One of the more acutely affected was Boca captain and midfielder Pablo Perez, who was hit in the eye by a shard of glass.
Police of Buenos Aires. To serve and protect... themselves. Another video of the attack #boca#river#libertadores#busattackpic.twitter.com/Vwx2GH0tAf
— Martin Mazur (@martinmazur) November 24, 2018
Despite being taken to hospital for treatment, the player was named in the provisional starting lineup and medical services confirmed there were no medical grounds on which the match could be called off.
At the behest of CONMEBOL officials, the game was set to go ahead with a simple postponement. FIFA boss Gianni Infantino reportedly even told Boca they would be disqualified if they refused to play.
Imágenes impactantes: así están los jugadores de Boca en el vestuario del Monumental, descompuestos y heridos tras las agresiones de los hinchas de River (foto @flor_laass). pic.twitter.com/BCAVdJHhLJ
— SportsCenter (@SC_ESPN) November 24, 2018
Common sense eventually prevailed and Boca's beleaguered players were spared the effort of recovering from tear gas poisoning to play in what has been described as the greatest show on earth after the third attempt to put the match back.
"We're in no condition (to play)," Boca forward Carlos Tevez told reporters shortly before the match was suspended. "They are forcing us to play the game."
"The players are all hurt, you can't play this way," Christian Gribaudo, Boca's secretary general, said, Reuters reported.
Reports surfaced of violence in and outside the stadium after the news of the postponement broke and there were rumors the game on Sunday would be played behind closed doors so as to prevent a repeat of the scenes on Saturday.
