River Players Attacked with Homemade Concoction during Argentine “Clasico”
BUENOS AIRES Toxicology tests have revealed that the irritant used to attack River Plate players during an Argentine clasico match at Boca Juniors stadium was a homemade concoction consisting of hot pepper sauce, cayenne pepper and acid, local media reported Saturday.
That mixture, which is known as mostacero in prison culture and produces skin irritation and a burning sensation, was
The analysis ruled out an initial hypothesis that the players may have been mistakenly sprayed with pepper gas by police who responded to the disturbances.
The attack occurred Thursday night at La Bombonera during a round-of-16 match of the Copa Libertadores competition pitting the two Buenos Aires-based arch-rivals.
River players were preparing to take the field through an inflatable tunnel for the start of the second half when a hooded assailant threw the substance at the players, who emerged from the tunnel with teary eyes and irritated skin.
The aggressor is believed to be a suspected hooligan known as El Panadero, according to media outlets such as Infobae and Clarin, although Argentine authorities have not officially confirmed that information.
The security lapses and unruly crowd behavior made news worldwide and forced the suspension of the match.
It is now up to the South American Football Confederation, or Conmebol, to determine how to conclude the second leg of that round-of-16 clash of the Copa Libertadores, the continents most prestigious club competition.
On Friday, Conmebol said it has initiated disciplinary proceedings against Boca Juniors.
It gave Boca until Saturday to submit the arguments the club deems appropriate, but pundits in Argentina expect the Buenos Aires club will receive an exemplary punishment, including being defaulted from this years Copa Libertadores.
River is leading its crosstown archrival 1-0 on aggregate after winning the first leg with a goal by Uruguays Carlos Sanchez.
Separately, a group of Boca Juniors fans has sued the club and its chairman, Daniel Angelici, for moral damage and other unspecified harm suffered by spectators as a result of the incidents at Thursdays clasico.