BUENOS AIRES: Boca Juniors meet River Plate in the semi-final of the Copa Libertadores on Tuesday hoping they and Argentina make headlines for all the right reasons less than a year after unsavoury scenes marred last year's final between the two teams.
The incidents sullied Argentina's image and authorities are taking every precaution to ensure there are no repeat incidents, with more than 1,000 police officers expected to be on duty in the Argentine capital.Around two-thirds of Argentine football fans say they support either Boca or River, giving any encounter between the teams a nationwide significance.
Boca now use a team bus with vandal-proof windows and they will have no fans at the game due to a ban on away supporters implemented six years ago to try and halt the spiralling violence between club ultras, or barra brava as they are called in Argentina.With one eye on Tuesday’s tie, law enforcement officials last week arrested 10 members of River’s most notorious barra brava and seized arms and drugs.
River will be missing captain Leonardo Ponzio as well as Juan Fernando Quintero, the attacking midfielder who scored in the final last year. But talismanic coach Marcelo Gallardo remains at the helm and is aiming for a third Libertadores title in five years.
Singapore Latest News, Singapore Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Source: ChannelNewsAsia - 🏆 6. / 66 Read more »
Source: ChannelNewsAsia - 🏆 6. / 66 Read more »
Source: ChannelNewsAsia - 🏆 6. / 66 Read more »
Source: ChannelNewsAsia - 🏆 6. / 66 Read more »
Source: ChannelNewsAsia - 🏆 6. / 66 Read more »
Source: The Straits Times - 🏆 8. / 63 Read more »