Copa Libertadores
River Plate vs Boca Juniors Postponed After Bus Attack
The Copa Libertadores final 2nd leg between River Plate and Boca Juniors has been postponed after Boca’s team bus was attacked prior to the game.
River Plate fans attacked Boca’s team bus with glass bottles and other missiles which smashed the bus’s windows, leaving Boca’s players with cuts from broken glass.
Captain Pablo Perez also required hospital treatment after having glass in his eye.
Buenos Aires police had sprayed tear glass in attempts to dispense the crowd.
However, that seeped in through the broken bus windows, affecting some of Boca’s players including star striker Carlos Tevez.
Players were vomitting in the changing room and required hospital treatment.
South America’s footballing governing body Conmebol were still eager to have the game played.
Even though, Boca’s directors insisted they weren’t in a fit state of mind to play.
There were reports that FIFA requested Boca Juniors to play the match or face disqualification from the Copa Libertadores.
However, this was later denied by FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
There were also clashes between River Plate fans and police outside the stadium.
The match will now be played on Sunday at 3pm ET.
Fan Violence Mars Argentinian Football Yet Again
It was a great opportunity for South America to showcase their biggest competition to a worldwide audience, between two of the biggest rivals in Argentina.
Given that the biggest prize in South American football was at stake, that tension was always going to be ramped up a few notches.
Conmebol hasn’t covered themselves in glory at the way they handled the situation.
First where was the security in trying to protect Boca’s team bus from rival fans.
Also, Boca’s bus had a large club crest on the side, making it obvious that it was them.
Would it not have been better to have travelled without any club identification?
There will surely be criticisms over how Conmebol initially requested them to play.
Surely they could have acted quicker and not left thousands of River Plate fans inside the stadium for hours not knowing what was going on.
This was a great chance for Argentina and Conmebol to showcase football in South America.
But given what has happened that chance has gone.
Will postponing the game by just under 24 hours be enough for Boca’s players to recover?
We will have to wait and see.
Photo credit to Dickson Dagogo via Flickr
