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Boca Juniors expelled from Copa Libertadores

Boca Juniors have paid the ultimate price for their violent fans, who appeared to attack River Plate players with pepper spray during the week, dumped out of the Copa Libertadores by CONMEBOL on Saturday.

River were awarded a 3-0 win after Thursday's last-16 second-leg tie at Boca's La Bombonera in Buenos Aires was called off at half-time with the score deadlocked at 0-0 when visiting players were sprayed with an irritant - possibly pepper spray or tear gas - as they re-entered the pitch.

River will now face Cruzeiro in the quarter-finals of South America's premier club competition.

Hooliganism reared its ugly head on Thursday as River's squad returned to the field following half-time, around six players emerging from the tunnel with tears streaming from their eyes.