In total, there were five red cards (three to Boca, two to River Plate) and a further nine yellows, according to the Guardian.
River Plate's goalscorer Leonardo Pisculichi and Jonathan Maidana were dismissed for their involvement in a scuffle that broke out when the latter headbutted Tevez.
Earlier, Boca's Jonathan Silva (on debut), Gino Peruzzi and Daniel Diaz were all shown red, to go with the side's two dismissals in their midweek defeat to Racing Club in Mar del Plata.
In all, referee Patricio Loustau awarded 40 free-kicks throughout the match.
"Neither of us behaved well," said Tevez after the match, putting forth his contender for understatement of 2016.
They didn't stop once the player who spent his youth career with the club and broke in on the senior side from 2001-2004 came out to greet the adoring fans.
Boca Juniors Expelled from Copa Libertadores After Incident vs. River Plate
May 15, 2015
Ramiro Funes Mori of Argentina's River Plate, center, and teammates wash their faces after a caustic substance was thrown at them from the stands, at the start of the second half of a Copa Libertadores round of sixteen soccer match against Boca Juniors in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Thursday, May 14, 2015. (AP Photo/Victor R. Caivano)
Boca Juniors' Copa Libertadores round-of-16 clash with River Plate was suspended after players of the latter club appeared to be sprayed with an irritant upon entering the pitch after half-time. As a result of the incident, Boca Juniors has been expelled from the tournament.
Continue for updates.
Boca Juniors Expelled from Copa Libertadores
Saturday, May 16
ESPN FC reported that "Boca Juniors have been expelled from this year's Copa Libertadores, will play four games behind closed doors."
On May 15, the Associated Press (h/t Fox Soccer) highlighted an individual "sliding a hand through the flexible tunnel that shields players entering the field." He was allegedly then seen "spraying some kind of irritant" which affected the River players' eyes. Such an incident is the latest in a long line of problems for Argentinian football.
Fox Soccer tweeted images from La Bombonera, Boca's stadium:
The second-leg match remained 0-0, with River leading 1-0 on aggregate after the opening tie. Police and players were stationed on the pitch for an hour before the encounter was eventually abandoned, as reported by Fox Soccer.
A video of the situation has appeared on YouTube:
"I can't see, I can't see. I am burning. This is not a war!" said River defender Ramiro Funes Mori after coming into contact with the irritant, as reported by BBC Sport.
"My whole body hurts," said River's Leonardo Ponzio, as reported by ESPN FC. "They threw, I'm not sure what it was, pepper spray at us. This just can't be."
River coach Marcelo Gallardo reacted by saying: "It's sad. It's unbelievable what happened," per Fox Soccer.
Boca president Daniel Angelici confirmed the club "will do all we can to help police," per BBC Sport. He also admitted the club would "accept responsibility" before saying this is "society's problem, not football's problem."
The club's rivalry with River ranks among the most hostile in sport. Both sides were formed in Buenos Aires, but River are known as the "millionaires" after "moving to the affluent Nunez neighbourhood," as reported by BBC Sport. Many of Boca's fans stem from the local Italian immigrant community, making Los Xeneizes known as "the people's team," per BBC Sport.
In May 2013, Rex Gowar of Reuters (h/t the Daily Mail), reported news of crowd violence during the same fixture. "Small bombs" were allegedly thrown onto the pitch, but the match was not abandoned.
According to the NGO Save Football group, more than 70 people have been killed at Argentinian matches since the turn of the century, as reported by Ignacio de los Reyes of BBC News.
Although there's no reports of lasting damage after this latest incident, ESPN FC's report confirms no date has been given to complete the fixture. If the result is still to be played for, it's perhaps best to do so behind closed doors.
Boca Juniors and Carlos Bianchi Must End Dependence on Tiring Juan Riquelme
Feb 20, 2014
Boca Juniors' Juan Roman Riquelme leaves the field with teammates after the first half against Arsenal at an Argentine league soccer match in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2013. (AP Photo/Eduardo Di Baia)
Despite the presence of legendary coach Carlos Bianchi at the helm, Boca Juniors are in crisis. The Argentine giants have not won in their last six competitive outings, and frustration was palpable at the weekend as the Xeneizes threw away a lead to go down to Belgrano 3-2.
With just two games gone in the Torneo Final, it is too early for panic to set in. The biggest problem faced by the club, however, will be on the sidelines Thursday evening in Rafaela.
Juan Roman Riquelme remains a talisman for the club. His arrogant ease on the ball, laser passing and inspired free kicks make him still one of the best players in the Argentine league.
Against Rafaela, though, his talents will not be utilised. The former Barcelona and Villarreal man is recovering from a muscle tear suffered in the previous championship; incredibly, it's his fifth injury incurred in 2013 alone.
During the previous Inicial season, the playmaker participated in just 12 of 19 matches. The paradox of his year is summed up by statistics contributed by footballlineups.com: While Riquelme was named Man of the Match three times, he was also substituted early in five encounters, meaning only seven fixtures saw the veteran play the full 90 minutes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMc4iLGSRhM
His run of injuries could be put down to bad luck, but there is another explanation. At 35 years old, Riquelme's body cannot keep up with the strains of professional football for any prolonged period. Bad news for the former Argentina international, but even worse for Boca.
In his absence, Bianchi has tried in vain to fill the creative void. Fernando Gago has been drafted in as a deep-lying playmaker, attempting to anchor the team's orthodox 4-4-2 line-up. But the midfielder has had injury problems of his own, and those around him do not give much help when it comes to going forward.
Boca have compensated for this deficiency by throwing men into attack, which leaves them dangerously exposed to the counter. Belgrano, far from a free-scoring side, had no problem waltzing through a threadbare defence to hit three goals in the Bombonera, while Boca meandered through the middle without ideas.
Riquelme then remains key to Boca, and other alternatives in the long term have been treated in a confusing manner. Young talent Sergio Araujo is at Tigre, while former Riquelme deputy Leandro Paredes was shipped out on loan to Italian club Chievo Verona. It may have been the right move economically, but Paredes' absence leaves no natural No. 10 when Riquelme is laid low.
Boca's problems do not begin and end with their star. The defence fails to inspire confidence, while weaknesses in key positions mean youth prospects are drafted in without continuity or experience. But without Roman's drive and his influence on the team, the Xeneizes are a shadow of the unit which dominated South American football in the 2000s.
If Bianchi wants to turn around the club's fortunes, the first thing he needs to do is start planning for a life without Riquelme.
Where Would Boca Juniors Finish in the English Premier League?
Oct 21, 2013
The question of how Boca Juniors, arguably Argentina's highest-profile club, would fare in the EPL is an interesting one to consider, even if it is an entirely fanciful discussion.
Argentines are fiercely proud of their domestic competition, and though most would concede it is not at the same level as Europe's wealthiest leagues, there is a belief that the best teams in the country could compete with almost anybody through a combination of grit, cunning and South American technique.
A man who is probably in a better position than anybody to compare Argentina's Primera to European club competition, Diego Simeone, caused quite a bit of consternation in his homeland with some withering comments (reported in Spanish by infobae.com) about the standard of the local competition.
Simeone insisted that his Catania side, which at the time he was attempting to guide out of relegation trouble, would be fighting for the title in Argentina if they were competing in the Primera rather than Serie A.
This viewpoint was greeted with some annoyance in some sections of the Argentine media, while other commentators admitted that "El Cholo" had a point; with South American talent constantly being siphoned away by foreign clubs, it stands to reason that local teams would struggle if they had to face off against their European counterparts.
So how would Boca, one of the continent's most successful and prestigious club sides, handle a season in the English Premier League?
Current Crop
The first point to note is that the current side is by no means a vintage Boca outfit. Despite the return of club legend Carlos Bianchi to manage the side, the Xeneizes endured a horrific 2013 Torneo Final, finishing second last on the table.
Their form has picked up considerably in the Torneo Inicial, where they occupy fourth place after 12 games, five points behind leaders Newell's Old Boys.
Boca boast one of the strongest player rosters in the country, however, so it would be no surprise to see them pushing for the title in the near future. In the wildly fluctuating world of Argentine football, it is common to go from zeros to heroes in a matter of a few months.
Quality Players
Gary Medel of Cardiff City once careened about in midfield for Boca, and Premier League favorite Carlos Tevez was also a Bombonera man, but which of those currently plying their trade in the navy blue and yellow could be considered up to EPL standards?
Fernando Gago: The former Real Madrid, Roma and Valencia midfield metronome arguably never fulfilled his immense potential in European football, but he remains a world-class passer of the football and is likely to feature heavily in Alejandro Sabella's World Cup plans.
Agustin Orion: Boca's goalkeeper is a solid custodian who would probably hold his own in the English League.
Guillermo Burdisso: Younger brother of Roma's Nicolas, Guillermo is one of the better Argentine center-backs around. His tough-tackling style and aerial prowess could see him earn a starting spot at one of the smaller Premier League clubs.
Juan Sanchez-Mino: A dynamic and skillful midfielder, this 23-year-old will most likely play European football at a high level at some stage of his career.
Juan Manuel Martinez: This gifted forward has speed, guile and finishing ability and is on the fringes of the Argentina squad.
Emmanuel Gigliotti: A muscular target man who is currently enjoying a rich vein of goal-scoring form, Gigliotti is not a dazzling player, but he could conceivably lead the line for an English team.
Juan Roman Riquelme: Whether Roman would cut it in the fast-paced EPL is open for debate, but then again, the sour-faced playmaker's worth has caused debate throughout his entire career. He may be 35, slow and struggling with regular injuries, but Riquelme is still capable of lifting any side through pure genius.
The rest of the Boca starting 11 is generally made up of functional players who would not be considered good enough by most English clubs, or grizzled veterans such as Daniel "Cata" Diaz and Pablo Ledesma who may once have made the grade but are now somewhat past their peaks.
The Gaffer
Bianchi is revered by the Boca faithful due to the remarkable success he achieved during his first two stints with the club. He led them to three Copa Libertadores titles and two Intercontinental Cups, among other achievements.
The Larry David lookalike's attempts at coaching in Europe remain a blot on his record, though, as he was never able to translate his South American chutzpah to the Old Continent.
Spells with Reims, PSG, Nice, Roma and Atletico Madrid did not yield any form of silverware and in most cases were deemed failures.
Whether Bianchi's managerial style would suit the Premier League is doubtful to say the least.
Physicality
Though Boca are not known for their fluid attacking football, their passing game is arguably on a par with that of many English top-flight clubs due to the heavy focus on that area of the game in Argentina, and they can lay claim to a talented and fearsome forward line.
An area where the South Americans would no doubt encounter problems in the EPL, however, would be in matching the fitness, speed, size and brute power of the English clubs in both defense and midfield.
The gap in performance in these areas is highlighted whenever a footballer makes the jump from the Argentine league to Europe and England especially.
A period of adaptation is usually required as the player learns to cope with the increased physicality of the game. Some, like Marcos Angeleri or Denis Stracqualursi, are never able to make the step up and end up returning to their comfort zone in Argentina.
If Boca were magically transplanted into the Premier League for a year, the physical intensity of the competition would most probably wear the whole squad down over the course of a season, while matches against large, powerful sides such as Manchester City and Tottenham could result in some serious drubbings for the Argentines.
Conclusion
Playing in a league more suited to their slower, less physical style, like Serie A or La Liga, might see Boca battling for a mid-table spot if they were in form and firing on all cylinders.
The Premier League would present a much grimmer challenge, however, and it is hard to see the Argentines making their way out of the relegation zone over the course of a season.
It might have been a different story for the great Boca team of the 2000s, but today's lineup would find life very tough.
Many leagues in world football have a group of teams set apart from the rest, the elite of the division. In Spain the duo of Barcelona and Real Madrid have divided the Liga spoils ...
Juan Roman Riquelme: Playing out of Love and for the Glory
May 28, 2013
Yesterday, an article written by Bleacher Report Featured Columnist Daniel Edwards titled “The 10 Biggest Unfulfilled Talents in World Football History” listed current Boca Juniors captain Juan Román Riquelme among them. In all honesty, there is no way he should be included in the article.
At the same time, it is not hard to understand why this could happen, as it is true that Riquelme never won a championship of any kind in Europe. Riquelme, however, did fulfill his talents and potential at Boca Juniors, the club he supports, and he helped it reach unimaginable heights and a place at the top of the world.
Nowadays, European football has a great advantage over South American Football, in that the economy in Europe in general is much stronger than in South America. This translates to football and allows the wealthier European clubs to poach the top players in South America, promising salaries that their South American counterparts cannot.
At the same time, it is undeniable that some of the best talents in the planet come out of South America, and were the economical situation different, their hometown clubs would be more likely to keep them in their midst. One great example of this is new F.C. Barcelona signing Neymar.
Neymar is currently Brazil’s most promising star. He just turned 21 a few months ago, and in a few short years he has already built himself a reputation as one of the most creative players in the world. He has already won everything that there is to win in South America with Santos F.C., and the fact that he stayed this long is a surprise to many, and a move for which he has been heavily criticized at times.
Riquelme’s case, however, is a unique one. Riquelme first left Boca in 2002 at the age of 24 for Barcelona, in a similar situation to Neymar’s, having already won everything there was to win with Boca and as one of the game’s rising stars. For the most part, Riquelme shined in his European period.
While at Barcelona in the 2002-03 season, he was not considered very often by then manager Louis Van Gaal, and when he was, it was as a wing, which was not his natural position. In 2003, he was loaned to Villareal C.F., a club where he would indeed shine. Riquelme, almost single-handedly, would lead a small, mostly unknown Spanish club all the way to the semifinals of the 2005-06 UEFA Champions League, a feat that is not given as much credit as it should.
However, the most important periods of Riquelme’s career were his stints at Club Atlético Boca Juniors, and the main reason that Román— as he is known by Boca fans—is far from an unfulfilled talent. The South American giant is historically one of the greatest clubs in the world, being tied with A.C. Milan for the lead in international titles, and having accomplished incredible feats in many finals.
His first stint lasted from his debut in 1996, at the age of 18, through 2002. In that period, Riquelme won the hearts of Boca supporters, helping the club to six titles, which included three national championships, two Copa Libertadores and the 2000 Intercontinental Cup against Real Madrid, in which Riquelme played a huge role.
His second and current stint, is the most interesting one, though, as it gives one an inkling as to Riquelme’s motivations. Riquelme returned to Boca in 2007 on a six-month loan to play in the Copa Libertadores. At that moment in time, Román was widely considered one of the best players on the planet. Riquelme was by far the most dominant and important player of that Copa Libertadores, scoring eight goals as a midfielder, including three out of five in the finals, to help Boca hoist its sixth trophy in the competition.
In the advent of his Libertadores participation, much speculation surrounded Riquelme’s future. Eventually, however, he was sold to Boca in November 2007 and would be allowed to return to competition after the January transfer window opened.
His return would mark the beginning of Riquelme’s rise to becoming, arguably, the most important player in Boca Juniors history. Had he tried hard enough, he could have signed a new lucrative contract in Europe with some minor team that would pay him well, but probably not help him achieve the glory he would with Boca and in the process become a living legend in the club he supported.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9boyUj15h0
Since his return to Boca, Riquelme has been an important part of everything they have achieved. That includes two national championships in 2008 and 2011, the 2008 Recopa Sudamericana and the 2011-12 Copa Argentina. His accomplishments in Boca, a giant both at the regional and global level, trump the idea that Juan Román Riquelme is an unfulfilled talent.
The fact that he saved his best performances for South American football should not take away from his legacy in any way. It is World Football, after all, and the sport goes beyond the European leagues.
Argentina: Boca Juniors and River Plate Rivalry Still Intense and Fierce as Ever
May 6, 2013
Boca Juniors and River Plate might not be the fearsome forces in Argentinian football they once were, but the passion and intensity of the superclasico remains as fierce as it always was.
The two teams met Sunday at Boca's La Bombonera Stadium, but the eventual 1-1 draw was held up for 15 minutes in the second half as the home supporters reacted in fury as River Plate manager Ramon Diaz was escorted off the field following his dismissal for allegedly insulting the referee.
River Plate opened the scoring through midfielder Manuel Lanzini after just 45 seconds of the match, but Boca's Uruguayan striker Santiago Silva levelled six minutes before the half-time whistle.
However, in the second period, referee German Delfino dismissed the River Plate boss, and Diaz was accompanied by riot police on his walk back to the dressing rooms as home supporters threw flares and objects on to the pitch.
Some fans climbed the steel fences separating them from the players and the pitch, and police responded by firing water cannons (BBC Sport).
Boca Juniors have struggled in the league this season, while their neighbours are challenging for the Argentinian title.
While Boca and star player Juan Roman Riquelme have found life difficult this season, River Plate have begun to restore their reputation following their relegation in 2011 (BBC News).
With the help of former France international David Trezeguet, the Millo bounced straight back into the top flight after just one season (Goal.com)
They are four points behind surprise league leaders Lanus, who have 26 points, while second-placed Velez Sarsfield have 25 points.
Libertadores Is Last Chance for Glory for Bianchi and Riquelme's Faltering Boca
May 1, 2013
It was supposed to be the dream partnership: the genius coach and virtuoso playmaker reunited to lead Boca Juniors to glory. The dream, however, has within the space of just a few short months threatened to turn into a nightmare, as the Xeneize, led by Carlos Bianchi and Juan Roman Riquelme, look set to end the first half of 2013 in ignominy.
Riquelme had walked out on the Argentine giants just under 12 months ago, following a painful final defeat to Corinthians, which ended Boca's dreams of lifting the Copa Libertadores for a seventh time.
There were rumours of conflicts with then-coach Julio Cesar Falcioni and club president Daniel Angelici, and the No. 10 spent six months away from football, linked with sides from both Argentina and elsewhere, ultimately refusing to return to the game.
It was the return of Bianchi that ultimately convinced Riquelme to come back to Boca.
The bespectacled coach is a legend around the Bombonera thanks to his three previous stints as coach of the side, which coincided with unparalleled glory. Under "El Virrey" (The viceroy), Boca lifted South America's premier club tournament three times in four years at the turn of the 21st century, as well as four national championships and two victories in the Intercontinental Cup.
The reunion of the two was meant to be the catalyst for a new golden age in the team; but so far, results have not gone their way.
Boca enter Wednesday's last-16 match against Corinthians, the Argentines' vanquishers in the final, in a less-than-ideal state. Defeat against Estudiantes marked the 10th game without victory for the club, equaling its worst run in history and consigning them to a lowly 18th in the Primera Division table.
Success in the Libertadores, which for fans of the Xeneize means semifinals or better, is the only thing that can rescue the flagging partnership and turn around the season for both Bianchi and Riquelme.
The 34-year-old has been far from his best in 2013, struggling with fitness and form, but he is hardly to blame for Boca's current woes.
The defence, which in a Bianchi side is assumed to be a paragon of solidity and security, has been in shambles, with no man stepping up to fill the void left by veteran centre-back Rolando Schiavi. The statistics tell the story; 17 goals have been conceded in 11 Primera games so far and a further seven during the group stage of the Libertadores have contributed to the team's spectacular fall from grace.
With the famous Superclasico against River Plate on Sunday and the return match against the Brazilians scheduled for May 15, Wednesday's match in the Bombonera represents the start of two vital weeks in Boca's season that could well define Bianchi's future at the club.
Defeat against the club's bitter Argentine rivals and an early exit from the Copa would mean unmitigated failure for the coach and place his continuity under serious question.
Riquelme for one was bullish in the buildup against Corinthians, stating that his team start as favourites, but he must know that he and his coach will be playing for their lives.
Daniel is a football journalist based in Buenos Aires, who specialises in covering the South American game. You can follow him on twitter at @DanEdwardsGoal
