Libertadores final postponed after bus attack leaves Boca players injured

After several hours of delays, common sense finally prevailed.

CONMEBOL suspended the second leg of the Copa Libertadores final between eternal rivals River Plate and Boca Juniors after an attack on Boca's bus sent two players to hospital.

"There was a request from both clubs that the game should not be played," CONMEBOL president Alejandro Dominguez told reporters, according to AS. "One because they were not in a condition to play, and the other because they didn't want to play under those circumstances. (There was a) gentleman's agreement."

The match is now scheduled for Sunday at 5 p.m. local time (3 p.m. ET). Supporters will be permitted to attend.

Multiple reports Saturday evening suggested River's stadium, El Monumental, had been closed by city authorities in the wake of the day's events, meaning another venue would need to be found ahead of Sunday's match, pending payment of a fine by the club to have it reopened.

The decision to postpone the match sparked chaos inside and outside River's jam-packed ground. Fans ran for safety as River's president, Rodolfo D'Onofrio, gave an interview. Fights also broke out as ticket-holders left the premises, according to The New York Times' Rory Smith.

Argentine outlet Todo Noticias reports 29 people were arrested.

Boca star Carlos Tevez had appealed to authorities before the announcement, telling reporters that he and his teammates were in "no state" to play.

Teammates Pablo Perez and Gonzalo Lamardo were both admitted to a nearby hospital with cuts to the face following the attack. Perez reportedly had glass shards stuck in his eye.

"We didn't have the right physical or mental conditions for the game to go ahead," Boca president Daniel Angelici said, according to AS. "It was a difficult decision, but the right decision."

River fans hurled objects at Boca's bus as it headed towards El Monumental to contest what the South American press called the "final to end all finals." The sides battled to a 2-2 draw in the first leg at La Bombonera.

Police deployed tear gas in an attempt to quell the River supporters, but it backfired. Instead, the gas drifted into the bus and assaulted Boca's players, leaving them physically unwell, per the Guardian's Jonathan Wilson.

Argentine newspaper Clarin, via Reuters, said six players vomited in the dressing room.