CONMEBOL postpones Copa Libertadores final

CONMEBOL has agreed to Boca Juniors' request to further postpone the Copa Libertadores final second leg.

Published : Nov 25, 2018 23:36 IST

The El Monumental stadium, where the Copa Libertadores final was scheduled to be played between rival clubs Boca Juniors and River Plate.
The El Monumental stadium, where the Copa Libertadores final was scheduled to be played between rival clubs Boca Juniors and River Plate.
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The El Monumental stadium, where the Copa Libertadores final was scheduled to be played between rival clubs Boca Juniors and River Plate.

The rescheduled Copa Libertadores final second leg between River Plate and Boca Juniors has been postponed, CONMEBOL president Alejandro Dominguez has confirmed.

The match was originally scheduled to be played on Saturday, but a 24-hour delay was agreed after Boca's bus was attacked by River fans on the way to El Monumental. Windows were smashed by projectiles and Boca players Pablo Perez and Gonzalo Lamardo were taken to hospital for assessment.

WATCH | Copa Libertadores final 'like a warzone' - Boca captain Perez

Boca subsequently requested the match not be held on Sunday, leading CONMEBOL to arrange a meeting of all parties at its headquarters in Paraguay this coming Tuesday to determine a new date and time.

"It is a shame that we are in a situation like this [because of] some misfits," Dominguez told Fox Sports .

"The image that has been sent to the world is the wrong one, this is not the football that we want. The conditions are not [equal], given there is a team that was attacked.

"When the XIs of each club enter the field, we want there to be equal conditions. We want to see a show. We believe that we must emit a signal that there are no excuses. Let the one who scores more goals on the pitch win.

"The board of CONMEBOL has taken the decision that there is no equality of conditions. We have to provide the conditions so that both clubs have the ideal conditions for [the final] to be played.

"We will meet with the presidents of Boca and River in Asuncion to find a date and play this game."

Boca's request for the latest postponement centred on a desire for the showpiece continental decider to be played "under equal conditions" following the "acts of violence" that were witnessed on Saturday.

READ | FIFPro backs Boca stance over postponed Copa Libertadores final

The Xeneizes asked that River be punished for the bus attack, which left several of its squad members visibly distressed and veteran striker Carlos Tevez protesting that his team-mates were unfit play.

With the G20 summit to be held in Buenos Aires this week, it appears the first Copa Libertadores final meeting between the two bitter rivals may have to wait until the weekend of December 8 for a conclusion. The victors are due to take part in the first semi-final at the Club World Cup in the UAE on December 18.

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