By Andrew Warshaw
November 29 – Qatar, which has staged a number of international matches featuring overseas teams, is emerging as a possible venue for the twice-postponed Copa Libertadores showdown between River Plate and Boca Juniors following Conmebol’s decision to play the decisive second leg outside of Argentina.
The game is scheduled to take place on either December 8 or 9 but as yet South American football’s governing body has not said where.
Bein Sports said on their Twitter account quoting “international media sources” that Qatar had offered to host game at the 40,000-capacity Khalifa International Stadium following the appalling scenes that led to last weekend’s second leg of the final being called off.
The winner would then stay on in the Middle East to compete in the Club World Cup which will begin four days later in Abu Dhabi.
Miami has also been touted as a possible host for the biggest club game in South America as have Paraguay and Brazil.
It is by no means certain, however, that a decision can be taken quickly.
Although the two-week delay would give time for Boca players to recover from the injuries suffered when their bus was attacked, club president Daniel Angelici said he will appeal all the way to the Court of Arbitration for Sport “if needed” to contest the proposed December 8 or 9 date if his players have not sufficiently recovered from their ordeal.
River Plate’s President Rodolfo D’Onofrio, meanwhile, said the security forces and not his club should be blamed for the attack on the Boca team bus and that the club may not agree to staging the game in Qatar which he sarcastically said was the equivalent of playing “on the moon.”
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