BUENOS AIRES – The match between football rivals River Plate and Boca Juniors at the latter’s La Bombonera stadium in Buenos Aires was suspended Thursday after the players of River Plate were sprayed with a substance consistent with pepper spray, which affected their vision. Four of the players were taken hospital as a consequence. The match was the second leg of a two-leg game, which River Plate won 1-0 the previous week.
The irritating substance was used after a goalless first half. Television images seemed to show a hand coming through the flexible tunnel that the players use to enter the pitch.
Following the issues of irritation, stadium officials kept the players on the pitch for almost two hours. After an hour, it was decided the game would have to be cancelled and postponed. It took a further hour for the River Plate team to be evacuated from the stadium, with police having to use their riot shields to guard the players from projectiles due to hostile fans surrounding them. The re-scheduling of the match has not been finalised.
These footages were produced for Ruptly TV on May 14, 2015. Click here.
