River Plate fans had filled the Monumental stadium for the Copa Libertadores second leg final, only for the match to be postponed. Reuters
River Plate fans had filled the Monumental stadium for the Copa Libertadores second leg final, only for the match to be postponed. Reuters
River Plate fans had filled the Monumental stadium for the Copa Libertadores second leg final, only for the match to be postponed. Reuters
River Plate fans had filled the Monumental stadium for the Copa Libertadores second leg final, only for the match to be postponed. Reuters

Copa Libertadores final: River Plate reject proposal to play Boca Juniors in Madrid


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River Plate said on Saturday they have refused to play the Copa Libertadores final against Boca Juniors in Madrid.

The match between the Argentine arch-rivals has been moved to Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu stadium after it was twice postponed last weekend after River Plate fans attacked the Boca Juniors team bus.

The match is due to be played in the Spanish capital on December 9, but River Plate said they "confirmed their rejection of the change of location".

  • Video grab showing supporters of River Plate burning a t-shirt with the badge of Boca Juniors in the surroundings of the Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires following an attack on the Boca team bus before the all-Argentine Copa Libertadores second leg final match between River Plate and Boca Juniors. AFP
    Video grab showing supporters of River Plate burning a t-shirt with the badge of Boca Juniors in the surroundings of the Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires following an attack on the Boca team bus before the all-Argentine Copa Libertadores second leg final match between River Plate and Boca Juniors. AFP
  • River Plate fans clash with riot police after the match was postponed. Reuters
    River Plate fans clash with riot police after the match was postponed. Reuters
  • A fan of River Plate after the match was postponed. Reuters
    A fan of River Plate after the match was postponed. Reuters
  • Video grab showing a cordon of riot police during clashes with supporters of River Plate. AFP
    Video grab showing a cordon of riot police during clashes with supporters of River Plate. AFP
  • Video grab showing a supporter of River Plate gesturing at riot police. AFP
    Video grab showing a supporter of River Plate gesturing at riot police. AFP
  • A fan of River Plate is detained after the match was postponed. Reuters
    A fan of River Plate is detained after the match was postponed. Reuters
  • Video grab showing detained supporters of River Plate. AFP
    Video grab showing detained supporters of River Plate. AFP
  • Video grab showing a cordon of riot police during clashes with supporters of River Plate. AFP
    Video grab showing a cordon of riot police during clashes with supporters of River Plate. AFP
  • Video grab showing security forces arresting a supporter of River Plate. AFP
    Video grab showing security forces arresting a supporter of River Plate. AFP
  • Video grab showing security forces guarding detained supporters of River Plate. AFP
    Video grab showing security forces guarding detained supporters of River Plate. AFP
  • River Plate fans pack out El Monumental Stadium before kick-off before the match was postponed due to riots on the streets. Getty Images
    River Plate fans pack out El Monumental Stadium before kick-off before the match was postponed due to riots on the streets. Getty Images
  • Video grab showing an aerial view of the Monumental stadium. AFP
    Video grab showing an aerial view of the Monumental stadium. AFP
  • Video grab showing an aerial view of supporters of River Plate waiting at security fences to get inside the Monumental stadium. AFP
    Video grab showing an aerial view of supporters of River Plate waiting at security fences to get inside the Monumental stadium. AFP
  • River Plate fans pack out El Monumental Stadium before kick-off before the match was postponed due to riots on the streets. Getty Images
    River Plate fans pack out El Monumental Stadium before kick-off before the match was postponed due to riots on the streets. Getty Images
  • River Plate fans pack out El Monumental Stadium before kick-off before the match was postponed due to riots on the streets. Getty Images
    River Plate fans pack out El Monumental Stadium before kick-off before the match was postponed due to riots on the streets. Getty Images
  • Wearing an eye patch, Gonzalo Lamardo, left, and Wilmar Barros of Boca Juniors, walk on the pitch after the match was postponed. AP Photo
    Wearing an eye patch, Gonzalo Lamardo, left, and Wilmar Barros of Boca Juniors, walk on the pitch after the match was postponed. AP Photo
  • Boca Juniors' Pablo Perez is seen on the field of the Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires with an eye covered after authorities postponed the match. AFP
    Boca Juniors' Pablo Perez is seen on the field of the Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires with an eye covered after authorities postponed the match. AFP
  • Marcelo Gallardo, coach ofRiver Plate, right, and Gustavo Barros Schelotto, assistant coach of Argentina's Boca Juniors. AP Photo
    Marcelo Gallardo, coach ofRiver Plate, right, and Gustavo Barros Schelotto, assistant coach of Argentina's Boca Juniors. AP Photo

In a statement on the club's website, River said it was "incomprehensible" that the match had been moved to Spain.

"It is incomprehensible that the superclasico cannot take place as normal in the same country where a G20 summit is currently taking place," the club added.

World leaders including US President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin are attending the G20 summit in the Argentine capital this weekend.

The winners of the Copa Libertadores - South America's equivalent of the Champions League - will claim the last remaining place in this month's Fifa Club World Cup in the UAE.

The contest is tied at 2-2 after the first leg at Boca's Bombonera Stadium, which was also postponed by 24 hours but due to weather.

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