Copa Libertadores Final Game Postponed Again
Sunday's rescheduled Copa Libertadores final second leg
between Boca Juniors and River Plate has been postponed.
Violence had forced the match between the bitter Argentine
rivals to first be delayed on Saturday.
The Boca Juniors team bus was attacked by River Plate fans
on its way to the game at River's Estadio Monumental.
The game was rearranged for Sunday at 20:00 GMT, 24 hours
later than planned, but was postponed three hours before the new kick-off time.
A decision on whether the match will be rearranged for
another date has yet to be announced.
Boca, who were held to a 2-2 draw in the first leg, had
urged South American football's governing body Conmebol to take action and
allow those affected by Saturday's incidents to recover further.
"Club Atletico Boca Juniors made a formal presentation
to Conmebol on Sunday to request that the final of the Copa Libertadores be
played in conditions of equality," said a club statement.
"After the acts of violence suffered in the vicinity of
the stadium, having noted the magnitude and seriousness of them and the
consequences they have generated in the establishment, Boca considers that
these conditions are not met and requests the suspension of the match."
A statement from Conmebol confirmed the match would not take
place on Sunday, adding: "Conmebol president Alejandro Dominguez
recognized Boca Juniors can't play today."
Boca players suffered cuts from the glass from broken
windows on Saturday and were also affected by the tear gas used by police to
disperse the crowds.
A number of players, including Boca's former Manchester
City, Manchester United and Juventus striker Carlos Tevez, reportedly suffered
from dizziness and vomiting and were being treated by club doctors.
Footage, apparently from inside the Boca dressing room,
showed the players groggy and disorientated.
Reports said Boca's Pablo Perez and Gonzalo Lamardo had been
taken by ambulance to hospital, the former with slivers of broken glass in his
eyes and the latter a cut on his head.
Dominguez called for help from authorities to
"identify, capture and prosecute those responsible."
The Copa Libertadores is the showpiece club competition in
South America, equivalent to the Champions League in Europe. The clubs had
agreed to a ban on away fans which mirrors an existing ban in domestic football
in Argentina.
Three years ago, a last-16 Copa tie between River and Boca
at the latter's La Bombonera ground was abandoned at half-time after Boca fans
attacked the River players with pepper spray in the tunnel.
Boca were kicked out of the competition, while River were given
a bye into the quarter-finals.
FROM .bbc.com/sport/football
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