Copa Libertadores second leg between River Plate-Boca Juniors to be held outside Argentina - 7M sport

Copa Libertadores second leg between River Plate-Boca Juniors to be held outside Argentina



Posted Wednesday, November 28, 2018 by ESPN

Copa Libertadores second leg between River Plate-Boca Juniors to be held outside Argentina

The second leg of the Copa Libertadores final between Boca Juniors and River Plate will be played in a neutral stadium outside Argentina on either Dec. 8 or 9, CONMEBOL executives said on Tuesday.

The final between the Buenos Aires arch-rivals, which was originally scheduled to take place at River Plate's Monumental de Nunez Stadium last Saturday, was postponed after River fans attacked the Boca bus prior to the match.

It was initially rescheduled for Sunday but was again postponed. The first leg was a 2-2 draw at Boca's Bombonera Stadium on Nov. 11, with that game played a day later than scheduled due to heavy rain.

The leading city to host the match is Asuncion, Paraguay, sources tell ESPN.

Paraguay chief of police Walter Vazquez had offered the Defensores del Chaco stadium in Asuncion as a venue.

"We are working with the logistics to see how the operation could be," he told ABC Cardinal AM730 radio on Tuesday.

The match won't be played in Miami or anywhere else in CONCACAF, sources told ESPN on Tuesday. Hard Rock Stadium in Miami had been proposed as a venue at a meeting of CONMEBOL officials Tuesday.

Time to play the match is limited, as the winner will represent South America in the FIFA Club World Cup which kicks off in the United Arab Emirates on December 12.

Genoa, Italy -- both clubs were founded by immigrants from the city -- has also offered to stage the match. Doha, Qatar, also offered to host.

CONMEBOL chief Alejandro Dominguez informed both teams' respective presidents ahead of a meeting on Tuesday in Asuncion of the decision to move the match.

The letter published by CONMEBOL read: "Regarding the violent incidents that took place in Buenos Aires on November 24, 2018, which put at risk the safety of the players, officials and fans, including criminal offences which the Argentinian authorities are still investigating, it's wise that the final shall not be played in that country...

"In order to ensure the sporting Copa Libertadores [tournament] is completed, CONMEBOL has resolved: a: That the 2018 Copa Libertadores return leg will be carried out either on the 8th or 9th December in a venue and time to be defined by CONMEBOL's administration [subject to the ruling of the disciplinary tribunal]. b: CONMEBOL will incur all the travel expenses for up to 40 people per delegation. c: CONMEBOL will coordinate the security with the relevant authorities."

CONMEBOL opened disciplinary proceedings earlier on Tuesday against the fans who attacked the bus. The confederation said River had 24 hours to present their defence at its headquarters in Luque, Paraguay.

An initial decision to delay the game on Saturday after the first violence led to more trouble inside and outside the stadium, with local media reporting that at least 30 people had been arrested.

Away supporters have been banned from football matches in Argentina since 2013 because of recurring violence.

Boca filed a formal petition to CONMEBOL, asking for River to be punished for the bus attack near the stadium, in which several players, including Boca captain Pablo Perez and midfielder Gonzalo Lamardo, were hurt and taken to nearby hospitals.

In their request, Boca cited an article in the regulations which could lead to the club being awarded the Copa Libertadores title without the second leg being played, something the River leadership considered a "complete and utter disgrace."

FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who was in Buenos Aires at the weekend to watch the much-anticipated game, said he supported CONMEBOL's decision to postpone the game and told La Nacion newspaper: "I'm saddened by Saturday's events. There should be no room for violence in football. The safety and well-being of players, spectators and officials should always be the main priority."

Boca believe River Plate should be disqualified and that Boca should be awarded the title. They threaten to refuse to play and go to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) if CONMEBOL's disciplinary committee rules otherwise.

Boca president Daniel Angelici said after the meeting: "We will not accept to play until the tribunal gives its ruling, with arguments, as we believe that Boca is in the right. If we are not in agreement (with that verdict), then we will appeal to the court of appeal. We will go as far as we can within the CONMEBOL administration and if we have to go to the CAS (Court of Arbitration for Sport) we will."



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