Boca Juniors players sick and injured after bus attack
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Boca Juniors players were injured after their bus was attacked on the way to the Copa Libertadores final against River Plate on Saturday.
Boca chairman Daniel Angelici requested the second leg be suspended, but South American soccer body CONMEBOL said it would delay kickoff for only one hour.
The Boca bus had several windows broken by stones and wooden sticks thrown by River fans near River’s Monumental de Nunez Stadium. Several players were hit by shattered glass and suffered the effects of tear gas and pepper spray used by police to contain the violence.
Footage showed players Pablo Perez, Carlos Tevez, Nahitan Nandes, Dario Benedetto, Mauro Zarate, Ramon Abila, and Agustin Almendra among the injured.
Perez was sent to a nearby hospital.
"They threw pepper spray at us, all sorts of objects," striker Benedetto said.
Police made arrests in the area of the stadium, but it was not clear whether those were connected to the incidents.
CONMEBOL executives were expected to meet FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who came to Buenos Aires to attend the match, for a final call on whether the final should proceed or not.
Meanwhile, 66,000 River Plate fans were in the stadium waiting for a match that has been one of the most anticipated in Argentine football history. No visiting fans are allowed in the stadium, following a 2013 ban on away fans to stop football related violence in Argentina.
Boca and River drew 2-2 in the first leg two weeks ago.
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