Red mist descends upon a most fierce rivalry.
Update: 10.30pm
The match between Boca Juniors and River Plate has been postponed until Sunday at 5pm GMT, according to reports.
Update ends
Boca Juniors and River Plate are famous rivals, and the conclusion of the Copa Libertadores final between the two was always like to provoke a reaction or two.
With a 2-2 draw carried over from the first leg, the second was due to be played at 8pm GMT on Saturday night.
At time of writing – a little after 9pm – the match still hasn’t kicked off due to wild scenes at River Plate’s Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires.
Boca’s team bus was attacked upon its arrival at the stadium as it was pelted with missiles from the River Plate supporters.
River Plate supporters attack Boca Juniors squad bus with pepper spray and rocks ahead of the Copa Libertadores final pic.twitter.com/h1FktcFQkF
— Indy Football (@IndyFootball) November 24, 2018
This caused the windows of the coach to smash, which led to police attempting calm the situation.
Pepper spray and tear gas were reportedly deployed as the Boca players were caught in the middle of the action.
The coach, meanwhile, was left in a state of disarray.
RIVER PLATE vs. BOCA JUNIORS update:
– Three Boca players apparently need to go to hospital
– Including Pablo Perez who has glass in his eye
– Still no word on the gameThis is the state of Boca Juniors coach:
(via @MARCAClaroARG) pic.twitter.com/01TOr8jSuB
— Coral (@Coral) November 24, 2018
Boca Juniors captain Pablo Pérez was taken to hospital following damage to his eye, images of which quickly surfaced on social media:
Así está el ojo del capitán de #Boca Pablo Pérez. pic.twitter.com/Dcrgu7IXOa
— Futbolisticamente Hablando ⚽️▶️ (@FutHablando2023) November 24, 2018
Later, his ambulance was surrounded by River Plate fans as he left the hospital.
Boca players including Carlos Tevez expressed their reluctance to play on.
“We are not in a position to play the game, they are forcing us to play the game,” said Tevez.
“Pablo has a patch in his eye.”
Fernando Gago said that “many players suffered” in the carnage.
“We were very surprised,” he said. “Many players suffered, we struggled to breathe. It’s not the best way to prepare a game.”
Boca were reportedly told that they would be disqualified if they failed to participate in the final.
Shortly after 9pm GMT, a letter attributed to South American Football Confederation doctors was issued, declaring that there is no medical reason to postpone the game.
A meeting is scheduled to take place imminently, with the match currently scheduled to go ahead at 10.30pm GMT.
The referees are out warming up. And that’s a Boca logo waiting to be unfurled. I guess we’re going to have a game. #RiverBoca pic.twitter.com/WCPFfWAEMw
— Joshua Robinson (@JoshRobinson23) November 24, 2018
