Copa Libertadores final in danger
It remains unclear when, where and even if it will take place
The final that never had been is at risk of becoming the final that never was. The meeting of River Plate and Boca Juniors, Argentina’s two biggest teams, in the final of the Copa Libertadores — South America’s biggest club football competition — was postponed on Sunday for the second day in a row by tournament organisers. It remains unclear when, where and even if it will take place.
A statement from Conmebol, the South American football confederation, which oversees the Copa Libertadores, said the decision was reached “with the goal of preserving sporting equality”.
The second leg of the homeand-home final — billed as the Final to End All Finals, given the prominence of the clubs and the competition — was originally scheduled to kick off at 5pm local time on Saturday. ■ That start was delayed and the game was eventually postponed a day after River Plate fans attacked the bus carrying Boca’s team to their rivals’ Estadio Monumental.
Several players were hit by glass after a barrage of sticks, stones and bottles struck the bus. Two were taken to the hospital with eye injuries, and several more were left retching and gasping for air after the police fired pepper spray to try to clear the crowd and the gas drifted inside the bus.
“We have to analyse this from the perspective of what is sporting and fair,” Dominguez told Fox Sports. “There is a team that has been injured and we are here for the good of the spectacle, so that when the starting XI of both clubs enter the field, they go without any excuse, and the match is played on a level playing field.”