Copa Libertadores Final Postponed After River Plate Fans Attacked Boca Juniors Team Bus

By Joshua Walters 

The Copa Libertadores final between sworn Argentine rivals, Boca Juniors and River Plate, has been postponed indefinitely after Boca's team bus was attacked close to the match venue.

The South America version of Europe's Champions League final was slated for Saturday, but could not come on after River Plate fans attacked Boca's team bus few meters to the Monumental de Nunez Stadium.

The continent’s football governing body, CONMEBOL, postponed the game to Sunday, but announced on the day that it had rescheduled the duel again, though failing to name a new venue or date.

"We have to analyze a sports inequality,” said CONMEBOL president, Alejandro Dominguez.  “The conditions cannot be met because a team has been attacked. The image shown to the world because of the actions of a few misfits is embarrassing. This is not what soccer is about."

The irate River Plate fans hauled the visiting crosstown Buenos Aires rivals’ with sticks, bottles, and stones as the team bus made its way to the stadium.

Captain Pablo Perez suffered an eye injury from shattered glass and was taken to a nearby hospital with teenager Gonzalo Lamardo, who had difficulty in breathing after smelling tear gas and pepper spray from outside the bus.

The first leg ended in a 2-2 draw at Boca's La Bombonera Stadium, and the Monumental de Nunez Stadium was already packed with thousands of fans when the announcement came that the game had been postponed to Sunday due to the incident.

Sunday’s postponement was the third to be suffered by the final as the first leg, which was originally set for November 10, 2018, was also postponed to the next day after heavy rains.

River Plate said they are disappointed by the incident.

"I feel pain, just like any other River and Boca fan because 15 people and some security mistake caused this," said River President, Rodolfo D'Onofrio.

Boca Juniors, on the other hand, have called on CONMEBOL to declare them winners by disqualifying River Plate.

"I'm convinced that these games are played and won on the field, but sometimes I have to refrain from what I think personally and stick to the statutes," said Boca President Daniel Angelici.

"We hope that (CONMEBOL's) disciplinary tribunal reviews and answers our demand."