Boca Juniors were knocked out of the Copa Libertadores after a loss on penalties to Atlético Mineiro.
The Argentinian side is considered to be one of the best teams in the continent, and hence it served as a major blow to the players when they lost to the Brazilian side on spot-kicks.
But instead of the match doing the headlines, the post-match scenes caught attention as all hell broke loose when the Boca Juniors players erupted in full-blown violence.
The first leg of the Copa Libertadores tie in Buenos Aires featured a Boca Juniors goal ruled out for offside, while the same fate was repeated in the second leg in a 0-0 draw at the Mineiro Stadium.
There was a commotion in the Atletico Mineiro vs Boca Juniors match because the goal was annulled by VAR. pic.twitter.com/xmamjfRgpX
— FOOTBALLFANSSTUFF (@officialffsnews) July 20, 2021
The decision was a debatable one to say the very least, triggering multiple clashes between players of both teams on the pitch as well – and it went on to continue in the dressing rooms after the tie ended goalless over both legs and Mineiro went on to edge it on penalties.
Frustrated with the below-par refereeing on display, the Boca Juniors took it upon themselves to fight it out with the match officials who had taken refuge inside the home dressing room.
Hermosa mano la de Rojo. Simplemente hermosa. Y bien el Cali rematando. pic.twitter.com/bHMevdBixE
— Nico Ambrogi ⭐ 70 ⭐ (@Nicoambrogi) July 21, 2021
To force their way in, the Boca players clashed with the opposition backroom staff and the police – who were forced to use tear gas to stop the conflict that turned to a brawl.
MADNESS at the #Libertadores
— International Champions Cup (@IntChampionsCup) July 21, 2021
Boca Juniors were ousted by Atletico Miniero due to VAR decisions in each leg 📺
After the match, players & personnel tried to storm the opposing locker room and were tear-gassed. In total, 8 players and staff were arrested 😳 (@TVBandMinas) pic.twitter.com/vuEfES9F8D
The exasperated Boca players used metal fences and barriers as weapons, while ex-Manchester United defender Marcus Rojo wielded a fire extinguisher as a weapon against the Brazilian police.
Ever see Marcos Rojo pick up a fire extinguisher during a backstage brawl? Now you have.
— Roy Nemer (@RoyNemer) July 21, 2021
For context, Boca Juniors were eliminated (even cheated with wrongly disallowed goals) from the Copa Libertadores and there was some action after the match. pic.twitter.com/8NDpLxotUp
More footage showed the Boca players throwing up as they could not cope with the tear gas used by the police, while 17-year-old Boca Juniors player Sávio was injured in the tussle that drew gasps from the online football community on social media platforms.
A Boca Juniors player vomits when he inhales gas fired by police. pic.twitter.com/eaRWcNveBo
— FOOTBALLFANSSTUFF (@officialffsnews) July 21, 2021
The dark side of the passionate and beautiful game of football was on full display, as the Boca players crossed a line in their attempts to prove their point in the face of defeat.
