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Copa Libertadores final delayed after violence

November 25, 2018

The Copa Libertadores football final has been postponed after River Plate fans attacked a bus carrying Boca Juniors players hours before kickoff. Some players complained of breathing difficulties due to police tear gas.

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Boca bus attacked by Plate fans at the Copa Libertadores final in Argentina
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/J. Romero

The second leg of the Copa Libertadores final in Argentina has been postponed to Sunday after River Plate fans attacked and injured Boca Juniors players hours before kickoff.

The head of the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL), Alejandro Dominguez, announced the delay after meeting with the directors of both clubs and FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

"This is football, not war," Dominguez said. "Neither team wants to play because this match would be unnatural."

River fans threw rocks and pieces of wood at Boca's bus shortly before it arrived at River's Monumental de Nunez Stadium in Buenos Aires.

Read more: From the stands to the streets: What does Chemnitz violence have to do with football? 

Violence against referees

Some Boca players had arm and eye injuries and others complained of breathing difficulties after tear gas and pepper spray used by police to stop the attack wafted in through shattered windows.

"They attacked us from everywhere," said Boca captain Pablo Perez.

'Gentleman's agreement' to postpone

The game was initially delayed by an hour and then another two hours before it was finally postponed to Sunday.

CONMEBOL doctors had said there was no reason to suspend the match from a "medical point of view." But Dominguez said both clubs came to a "gentleman's agreement" after separately requesting the game's postponement.

The first leg of the "superclasico" ended 2-2 three weeks ago.

It's the first time the rival Argentinian teams have met in the Copa Libertadores final, South America's equivalent to Europe's Champions League final.

amp/cmk (AP, AFP)

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