Marcos Rojo and his Boca Juniors teammates clashed with Atletico Mineiro players after losing the Copa Libertadores in a penalty shoot out.
Boca players were angered by their defeat as a controversial VAR call that went against them when a goal from Marcelo Weigandt was disallowed in the second-leg of their round of 16 tie against Brazilian team Atletico Mineiro.
Videos have emerged online of the violent scenes where players from both side fought in the tunnel after the match ended 3-1.
Chaos began to unfold in the tunnels, where footage shows players throwing the metal fencing as officials tried to break up the fight.
Se ve que en la transmision de allá no lo pasaron. pic.twitter.com/uMxyP47b59
— Faka (@Faka_sc) July 21, 2021
They clashed with police, who were forced to use tear gas on the players.
Parte 2. Gas pimienta y Pavon tirandole algo al techo(?) pic.twitter.com/Z0155Ahk7P
— Faka (@Faka_sc) July 21, 2021
Footage shows Boca players going into their rivals dressing room.
Revoltados com a eliminação, os jogadores do Boca Juniors tentaram invadir o vestiário do Atlético. E quem encarou os argentinos de peito aberto foi o presidente do Galo, Sérgio Coelho. pic.twitter.com/b5EPE61cFv
— O Tempo (@otempo) July 21, 2021
One particular clip, shows former Manchester United player Marcos Rojo throwing a punch at security guard.
El miedo que me da Rojito enojado pic.twitter.com/k7IwMyDEdL
— Alfre Montes de Oca (@alfremontes) July 21, 2021
As the violence ensued, another clip sees Rojo ripping a fire extinguisher off the wall - though we’re not sure what how he’s going to use that (he doesn’t look too sure about it himself either).
Una botella contra um matachamas pic.twitter.com/RcC51m3g4m
— G. A. L. O. (@flaviocaldeira) July 21, 2021
The fight may have started after Sergio Coelho, President of Atletico Mineiro, provoked the Boca players, Argentinian publication La Nacion reported.
A Brazilian journalist reported that arrests had been made as a result from the fight.
OCHO jugadores de Boca están siendo llevados en estos momentos a una comisaría en Belo Horizonte, me confirma una fuente de la Policía Militar de Minas Gerais. La Policía registró que el propio árbitro del partido fue agredido por miembros del plantel de Boca.
— Marcelo Silva de Sousa (@msilvadesousa) July 21, 2021
Afterwards, in a press conference Boca Juniors manager Miguel Russo said he and his team would not return to Argentina if not everyone can.
“Either we all leave or none of us leave,” he said.
Atletico Mineiro’s official Twitter account provided a statement on the events that occurred in a Twitter thread, and said no will be detained for the incident.
Depois de longa negociação, intermediada pelo presidente Sérgio Coelho, a delegação argentina foi à delegacia para registro de boletim de ocorrência por depredação de patrimônio e agressão. Ninguém será detido.
— Atlético 😷 (@Atletico) July 21, 2021
“After a long negotiation, mediated by president Sérgio Coelho, and the Argentinian delegation went to the police station to report an incident for property damage and aggression. No one will be arrested.”
Indy100 has contacted Boca Juniors and CONMEBOL - South America’s football governing body for comment.
