Libertadores Cup goes back to the bad old days

South America's Libertadores Cup, a competition blighted by its past, has taken a trip back to the bad old days. Crowd riots, weak refereeing and intimidation of visiting teams have marred this year's tournament while the authorities have buried their heads in the sand. The first leg of the all-Brazilian final will be played tonight.

South America's equivalent of the European Champions League had largely managed to clean up its act in the last few years.

The days when defenders spat at their opponents or poked them with sharpened wedding rings and when away teams were kept awake all night by noisy crowds outside their hotels appeared to be in the past.

Trouble, however, has made an unwelcome return. Two weeks ago, a quarter-final second leg between Boca Juniors of Argentina and Guadalajara of Mexico was abandoned when a brawl on the field sparked a riot on the terraces at Boca's Bombonera stadium.

Boca, 4-0 down from the first leg, had tried to intimidate their opponents with non-stop provocation and late off-the-ball tackles.

When that failed and Boca found themselves still goalless with 15 minutes left, they provoked a brawl which ended with Boca striker Martin Palermo and Guadalajara's Adolfo Bautista sent off.

Bautista was kicked by a ball boy, punched by a fan who had scaled the fences and spat at by Boca coach Jorge Benitez as he left the field.

Referee Martin Vazquez was forced to call off the game as missiles rained down on the Guadalajara goal.

A week later, Argentina's River Plate said their team bus had been stoned by rival fans on its way to the Morumbi Stadium for the semi-final first leg away to eventual finalists Sao Paulo in Brazil and blamed their hosts for failing to provide an escort.

River fans, meanwhile, were involved in a furious battle with riot police in which 12 people were injured.

Surprisingly, the South American Football Confederation (CSF) has done little.

Boca's Palermo and Benitez were suspended until the end of July, a meaningless punishment given that Boca have been knocked out of the tournament and Benitez resigned the day after the incident under pressure from club president Mauricio Macri.

The hardest hit was Guadalajara striker Bautista who missed his team's semi-final tie after being banned for two games even though he appeared to be a victim who was wrongly sent off.

Other than that, the CSF merely issued a friendly warning.

Under the headline "Fair Play, please", the message from CSF president Nicolas Leoz was reminiscent of a headmaster admonishing a group of naughty schoolboys.

"We must wipe intolerance from the football pitches of our continent," it said.

"A dark stain has taken the shine off our beloved Libertadores Cup."

No action has been taken against Boca ringleaders Guillermo Barros Schelotto and Raul Cascini, whose non-stop provocation and dissent created a poisonous atmosphere on the pitch which spread to the terraces.

Television commentators have repeatedly aired suspicions that referees have shied away from giving yellow cards during the first half of matches to avoid having to send off players.

Whether deliberate or not, the policy has allowed bully-boy defenders to hack down opponents several times before being booked.

Last Wednesday, River Plate midfielder Javier Mascherano appeared to have been given a licence to kick by referee Ruben Selman as he committed three blatant yellow-card offences without being cautioned.

The all-Brazilian second-round, second-leg clash between Palmeiras and Sao Paulo produced 72 fouls, but only one player was sent off.

The competition has been further blighted because it clashed with the Confederations Cup where Mexico, Argentina and Brazil, who provided the eight Libertadores quarter-finals between them, were taking part.

As a result, Santos were without the talents of Robinho when they lost their second leg 2-0 at home to fellow Brazilians Atletico Parana-ense and went out 5-2 on aggregate.

Paranaense, who play Sao Paolo in the final today, also benefited when semi-final opponents Guadalajara had five players picked for the Confederations Cup. The depleted 'Chivas' were beaten 3-0 in the first leg.

The confusion earned CSF president Leoz a rare public reprimand from FIFA president Sepp Blatter.

"He knows very well that FIFA established the June 15-30 period for international competitions," Blatter told reporters.

"After all, he is vice-president of the Confederations Cup organising committee, which helped draw up the calendar. He should have done something about it."