Copa Libertadores final postponed again

0 Comment(s)Print E-mail Xinhua, November 26, 2018
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The rescheduled second leg of the Copa Libertadores final between Boca Juniors and River Plate was suspended on Sunday amid uncertainty over when or if it will be played.


The match between the Argentine rivals, originally slated for 5pm local time on Saturday, was pushed back by 24 hours after an attack on Boca's team bus that left several players needing medical treatment.


The South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) issued a statement three hours before Sunday's planned kick-off, confirming the match at River's Monumental Stadium had again been postponed.


"CONMEBOL president Alejandro Dominguez recognized that Boca Juniors can't play today," the statement read. Dominguez said CONMEBOL would work with local authorities to "identify, capture and prosecute those responsible."


The Asuncion-based body did not say if the match would be held on another date or at an alternative venue.


Earlier, Boca issued their own statement calling for the game to be suspended to allow players affected by Saturday's incident to make a full recovery.


"Club Atletico Boca Juniors made a formal presentation to CONMEBOL to request that the final of the Copa Libertadores be played in conditions of equality," it said.


"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."


Boca said their players were physically and psychologically affected by the attack, which occurred as their bus arrived at the Monumental in Buenos Aires' north around an hour before the scheduled kick-off.


Captain Pablo Perez and young midfielder Gonzalo Lamardo were taken by ambulance to hospital with cuts after missiles thrown by River fans smashed the vehicle's glass windows.


Others were left feeling ill by tear gas, which police had fired in an effort to disperse fans.


Boca and River drew 2-2 in the first leg Boca's La Bombonera earlier this month. The winner on aggregate will be crowned Copa Libertadores champions, earning the right to play in next month's FIFA Club World Cup in the United Arab Emirates.


It is the first time that Argentina's two biggest clubs have met in the final of South America's premier club competition.


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