Madrid final gets all clear

BOCA JUNIORS’ last-gasp bid to stop today’s Copa Libertadores Final in Madrid was turned down last night.

Boca filed their appeal to sport’s highest court on Friday after the South American Confederation rejected their claim opponents River Plate should be disqualified.

In a statement, the Court of Arbitration for Sport said: “We have dismissed an urgent request for provisional measures filed yesterday by Boca Juniors in which it sought to suspend the second leg of the final of the Copa Libertadores.”

The organisation said it would nevertheless hear the merits of Boca’s appeal at an undisclosed later date.

Boca and River drew 2-2 in the first leg of the final – South America’s equivalent of the Champions League – on November 11.

But the second leg at River’s Monumental stadium was postponed after Boca players were hurt when their coach was attacked by River fans as it approached the ground.

Several players were cut by flying glass and some inhaled tear gas.

The second leg is scheduled to take place at Real Madrid’s Bernabeu stadium today.