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BUENOS AIRES – A game considered to be the most important in Argentine football's history was plunged into chaos on Saturday after fans attacked the bus carrying Boca Juniors players to River Plate Stadium. After two attempts to delay the start, the officials finally agreed to postpone the match until Sunday night.
Despite the presence of several police officers, a shooting of objects – apparently including cans, bottles, stones and wooden sticks – broke several windows as the bus slowed down to take a turn. Splashes of pepper also reached the bus, but it was not clear whether he had been shot by supporters or by the police. River Plate supporters and police clashed several times outside the stadium.
When Boca's players arrived at the stadium, showed a video on television, many of them were throwing up and panting. The doctors treated two patients, Pablo Pérez and Gonzalo Lamardo, for glass in their eyes; several others had been cut by splinters.
Reporter the match was "good sense," said Alejandro Dominguez, president of Conmebol, organizer of the competition. "There was a gentleman's agreement between the presidents of both clubs," he added. "The one did not want to play and the other did not want to win in these circumstances.
Nearly 70,000 spectators had gathered at Estadio Monumental for the second leg of the Copa Libertadores final between the two teams, who face off against Superclásico: the most intense rivalry and the most intense of South America. In the first leg of the match, which received the nickname Todos Los Tiempos final – The all-time final – Boca and River drew 2-2, two weeks ago.
Boca fans were not allowed to visit the stadium because of the ban on visiting supporters in any match involving the top five Argentinian clubs. The ban was imposed in 2013 to prevent football-related violence.
The report was only called about two hours after the initial departure time at 3 pm Is. About 15 minutes before Conmebol said the kickoff would be postponed for an hour, he was then backed off for 2 hours and 15 minutes. In talks with officials, Boca said the match should be postponed to Sunday or Wednesday.
Although Boca first insisted that the game should continue, the club's leaders quickly told Conmebol that they did not believe their players were in a position to do so. Pérez and Lamardo finally went to the hospital to establish the extent of their injuries. they were also examined by a medical team from Conmebol.
River director Marcelo Gallardo told the authorities that his team did not intend to play if Boca objected. But Conmebol seemed determined that the game should go forward, in order to meet broadcasting commitments.
Boca was informed that – because Conmebol's doctors had not been able to determine the extent of injuries suffered by her players – if she refused to compete on the field, she would lose the game and the trophy . Two Boca players, Carlos Tevez and Fernando Gago, confirmed that they felt they were forced to play.
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