adminMADRID. — River Plate president Rodolfo D’Onofrio has said the decision to play tomorrow’s Copa Libertadores final return leg against Boca Juniors in Madrid will be remembered as a “tremendous disgrace for Argentinian football.”
South American football’s governing body CONMEBOL moved the game from River’s Monumental Stadium to the Bernabeu for security reasons after it was postponed due to crowd trouble last month.
Asked how the situation would be remembered, D’Onofrio told El Pais: “As a disgrace. As a tremendous disgrace for Argentinian football.”We lost being hosts and that is a huge disadvantage. It’s unjust that more than 60 000 people have lost the opportunity to see the game at the Monumental Stadium.”
D’Onofrio said CONMEBOL’s decision was harsh and his club had no responsibility for the violence that saw the Boca team bus attacked.”The security system failed, totally and absolutely,” he said. “We had zero responsibility.
“River’s responsibility begins inside the Monumental stadium. When Boca leave their hotel, the responsibility is of the security services. The city and nation’s highest authorities already admitted that.” — ESPN.
Online Reporter