Argentinian Derby Turns Ugly

Yesterday the New York Times ran a story about the 2nd leg of South America's premier club competition, the Copa Libertadores between Buenos Aires' archrivals, River Plate and Boca Juniors, the first time the two teams have met in a cup final.  The first match ended in a 2-2 draw.  Noted radio announcer Leonardo Uranga called the game "the biggest game in Argentina history."

The game had been scheduled for tonight, Saturday, November 24, but was called off when the bus carrying Boca to the River Plate stadium  was attacked by River Plate fans who threw stones, sticks and bottles at the bus, shattering windows and causing the driver to faint.  Police used pepper spray to disperse the crowd and fumes drifted inside the bus where some players had been cut by flying glass and debris.  Rory Smith, who wrote the original Times article about the game, reported on the chaos and resulting postponement.

Although Boca said it could not play the game, Conmebol, the governing body of South American soccer, insisted that it go on.  Finally, at 7:45, the game was postponed to Sunday evening.

The whole affair was an embarrassment for Argentina, where a summit meeting of the G20 will take place in Buenos Aires this coming week.