Officials close Boca's Bombonera ground ahead of final
Boca Juniors' fans cheer as players stand in front of the tribune at the end of a training session ahead of their second leg Copa Libertadores final match against River Plate in Buenos Aires, Argentina November 22, 2018. REUTERS/Marcos Brindicci
BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - Boca Juniors' decision to hold an open training session ahead of their Copa Libertadores final against River Plate backfired on Thursday when authorities closed the ground for exceeding spectator limits.
Some 50,000 fans packed into the famous Bombonera ground to see the players train for Saturday's clash with their arch rivals and thousands more were locked outside.
Boca conceded it had been a misjudgement.
Boca Juniors' Pablo Perez (C) and Nahitan Nandez fight for the ball during a training session ahead of their second leg Copa Libertadores final match against River Plate in Buenos Aires, Argentina November 22, 2018. REUTERS/Marcos Brindicci
"There were more people than suitable," Boca president Daniel Angelici told the TyC Sports channel.
"Lots of people were left outside, we went too far and they have closed the stadium."
Angelici said the club aimed to contest the stadium closure on Friday, fearing that if Boca triumph in Saturday's match at River's Monumental stadium they would not be able to host a celebration there.
Boca Juniors' Dario Benedetto heads the ball during a training session ahead of their second leg Copa Libertadores final match against River Plate in Buenos Aires, Argentina November 22, 2018. REUTERS/Marcos Brindicci
The two Buenos Aires teams drew the first leg 2-2 at the Bombonera on Nov. 11 and away fans will again be banned for deciding second leg of the final.
It is the first time Argentina's two biggest clubs have met in the final of the Libertadores, South America's equivalent of the Champions League.
Boca Juniors' Dario Benedetto (C) jokes with Nahitan Nandez during a training session ahead of their second leg Copa Libertadores final match against River Plate in Buenos Aires, Argentina November 22, 2018. REUTERS/Marcos Brindicci
(Reporting by Andrew Downie, editing by Nick Mulvenney)
Boca Juniors' fans cheer during a training session open for the public ahead of their second leg Copa Libertadores final match against River Plate in Buenos Aires, Argentina November 22, 2018. REUTERS/Marcos BrindicciBoca Juniors' players acknowledge supporters during a training session ahead of their second leg Copa Libertadores final match against River Plate in Buenos Aires, Argentina November 22, 2018. REUTERS/Marcos BrindicciBoca Juniors' players attend a training session open for the public ahead of their second leg Copa Libertadores final match against River Plate in Buenos Aires, Argentina November 22, 2018. REUTERS/Marcos Brindicci
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