Superclásico Suspended After Fans Pepper-Spray River Plate Players

Tonight’s second leg of the Superclásico Copa Libertadores matchup between Argentine powerhouses Boca Juniors and River Plate was suspended as the visitors were attacked by pepper spray-wielding Boca supporters.

The incident occurred as River Plate attempted to enter the stadium after a scoreless first half. Boca fans appear to have found a gap in the security tunnel that gave access to the pitch, and flooded it with pepper spray. Numerous River Plate players could be seen gasping and sobbing, with others wearing spray-stained shirts.

The match hasn’t resumed yet, and it’s not clear if it will—though at the moment, there’s no safe way to get River Plate off the middle of the pitch. The Superclásico is famously one of the soccer world’s most bitter and dangerous rivalries.

[Fox Deportes]

Update (10:01 p.m.): Fox Deportes announcers keep calling the situation “incompetent.” You can see Boca fans still cutting holes in the tunnel and there are no police to be found anywhere.

Update (10:12 p.m.): River Plate players have been stranded in the middle of the pitch for more than an hour now. There is no safe way to get them off the pitch, as the tunnel has been compromised.

Update (10:45 p.m.): We still don’t know if River Plate players made it off the pitch. The last thing Fox Deportes showed before switching to coverage of the next match was this:

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