Windows of the coach were smashed and the use of tear gas led to the players vomiting in the changing room
TWO Boca Juniors players have been hospitalised after River Plate fans ambushed their team bus ahead of the second leg of their Copa Libertadores final.
Stars, including former Manchester United striker Carlos Tevez, were reportedly left vomiting in the changing room and in need of treatment after coach windows were smashed and tear gas was used.
In chaotic scenes, South American football's governing body eventually postponed the game over TWO HOURS after the scheduled kick-off amid claims they tried to force Boca to take to the field.
The match - potentially the biggest-ever between two of the game's fiercest rivals - will now be played at 8pm UK time on Sunday.
The world caught a glimpse of the incredible passion stirred by the two Buenos Aires giants when 49,000 fans watched a Boca TRAINING session this week.
And Boca's coach was met with wild scenes as it approached River's Monumental Stadium as fervour erupted into violence.
Various missiles were launched at the coach as police struggled to control thousands of River supporters gathered outside.
Shocking footage showed at least three windows smashed with terrified players on board. Pepper spray aimed at fans then leaked in through the gaping holes.
The coach driver later revealed he FAINTED in scenes he described as a "war", only for Boca's vice-president to steer the bus to safety.
Players were forced to cover their mouths as they climbed off the bus after the petrifying attack.
Tevez was bent over and clearly in pain as he arrived at the ground.
And images from inside the visitors' changing room showed a number of players being helped by doctors, some bleeding and complaining of dizziness and nausea.
It later emerged Boca team-mate Pablo Perez - who was named in the starting line-up before the incident - was transferred to hospital for urgent medical attention after shards of glass went in his eye.
The midfielder - as well as youth player Gonzalo Lamardo - was seen with a bandaged eye as he returned to the stadium.
Boca club secretary told media sources: "The players are all injured, they cannot play."
Yet South American football's governing body CONMEBOL insisted the match would still take place - with kick-off time initially pushed back by one hour.
A letter signed by federation's doctors even claimed injuries to players were only "superficial" and concluding there is "no reason to postpone the game".
There were then reports that Fifa chief Gianni Infantino told Boca chiefs they would be DISQUALIFIED and banned from future competitions if they refused to take the field.
Tevez, who returned to his boyhood club from China earlier this year - confirmed that they were being put under pressure to play the game.
He told Argentinian TV: "They are forcing us to play. The doctors are putting us under a lot of pressure.
"We have three team-mates who are not in a state to play the game. But if we have to play we will play.
"There were a lot of players coughing, wanting to throw up. I had a lot of pain in my throat and my headache is only going away now."
It is believed the pressure had been ramped up by TV broadcasters desperate to show the game, though they eventually saw sense and made a U-turn on the decision to play.
By that time thousands of ticketless River fans were clashing with police outside the ground with more tear gas being deployed.
And the 70,000 disappointed supporters in the ground were warned to ensure they were not mugged by those waiting outside .
Argentinian football legend Gabriel Batistuta tweeted: "Another opportunity lost with the whole world watching us. Shameful, lamentable."
In 2015, the only previous Libertadores fixture between the pair was suspended and after Boca fans attacked River players with pepper spray at the Bombonera. River were ultimately awarded the tie.
It is unknown whether the three-time continental champions will be punished for the incident.
Away fans have been banned from attending the two games due to previous violence between supporters.
