Boca Juniors file appeal with CAS over Libertadores final

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Boca Juniors filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on Friday asking for the club to be awarded the Copa Libertadores after violence by River Plate fans forced the second leg of the final to be postponed, club sources have told Reuters.

Boca and River drew the first leg 2-2 on Nov. 11 but the second leg at River`s Monumental stadium was postponed after Boca players were hurt when their coach was attacked by River fans as it approached the ground. 

The match is now scheduled to take place in Spain on Sunday at Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu stadium.

Boca`s move comes a day after the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) rejected a similar appeal to be awarded the trophy.

"We had 10 days to lodge our appeal with CAS but we did it the first day," the Boca official told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Boca based their appeal on a similar situation three years ago when they were kicked out of the Libertadores, South America`s top club competition, after their fans attacked River players with pepper spray at halftime during the first leg of their last 16 showdown.

The club now had several weeks in which to prepare their case, a second official told Reuters, also on condition of anonymity. 

The official said the six-time Libertadores champions would continue with the appeal regardless of what happens in Sunday`s match in Madrid.