The second leg of the Copa Libertadores final between Boca Juniors and River Plate will be played outside of Argentina on Dec. 8 or 9 at a venue "yet to be confirmed," CONMEBOL announced, according to the London GUARDIAN. Boca President Daniel Angelici "adopted a stubborn stance" in a meeting at CONMEBOL's HQ in Asunción, Paraguay, and delivered a letter "formally requesting" that River be disqualified from the competition and for the second leg "not to be played at all." He added that he would appeal the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport "if needed." River President Rodolfo D’Onofrio "was also in attendance," as was Paraguayan FA (APF) President Robert Harrison, "leading to speculation the match could be played in Asunción," but Brazil and Italy "have also offered to host the second leg." CONMEBOL President Alejandro Domínguez "hinted on Monday that the twice-postponed match may be moved to a neutral venue" when he said that the "equal" conditions that Boca demanded "could not be guaranteed." He said, "The conditions to play in Argentina are not right. Football is not about violence, it is decided with goals" (GUARDIAN, 11/27).
LEGAL ACTION: REUTERS' Hugh Bronstein reported Argentina President Mauricio Macri on Monday "called for Congress to pass a bill in special session that would crack down" on hooliganism. He wants a law that would "more severely punish the kind of violence" that took place in Buenos Aires on Saturday. The riot was "especially embarrassing to the country as it prepares to host a summit of the G20 bloc of nations on Friday." A "visibly angry" Macri went on TV to denounce criminal organizations, called "Barras Bravas," that are known for "dealing drugs, extorting rank-and-file fans and demanding protection money from small businesses located near stadiums" (REUTERS, 11/26).
