The second round of the Copa Libertdores. Boca vs River Plate in the Bombonera, if ever you were going to see football at it's most intense this was it. And unfortunately, it lived up to expectations. A number of River Plate players have been hospitalised after they were attacked with tear gas/pepper spray while coming back out of the tunnel for the second half.
With the River players waiting in the flexible tunnel to reenter the pitch, television pictures showed Boca fans gaining access and setting off some kind of irritant. River's players then appeared, covering their faces and in obvious distress,
The players then encamped in the middle of the pitch by which time police had finally caught on to what had happened. It took over an hour for the match to be officially called off.
Speaking after the game was finally abandoned, River defender Leonardo Ponzio spoke about the incident.
My whole body hurts. They threw, I'm not sure what it was, pepper spray at us. This just can't be.
The most bizarre part of it all? Boca players came out and applauded their fans at the end of it all.
