FIFA will reportedly issue a "heavy penalty to CONMEBOL" for the violence during Thursday's Copa Libertadores game between Boca Juniors and River Plate, and South American football "will pay a costly price for the embarrassment: its fifth place at the 2018 World Cup is nearly lost," according to Agustín Medina of AS. FIFA wanted an "exemplary sanction against Boca Juniors for violence by the club's fans against River Plate players." Sources said that FIFA will take away South America's opportunity for one of its teams to qualify for the World Cup via a playoff. Until now, "up to five teams from the continent could make the World Cup." This decision "is expected to be announced on May 29" (AS, 5/18).
CONMEBOL DENIES REPORT: The AFP reported CONMEBOL on Monday denied that "eventual discussion of South America's fifth place for the 2018 World Cup would be linked to the sanction issued to Boca Juniors." Sources said that CONMEBOL maintains it will count on the possibility of sending five teams "for their merits" in response to the AS report. CONMEBOL spokesperson Néstor Benítez said that the topic of a fifth team "was not on the agenda of the exec committee" (AFP, 5/18).
