River Plate coach Marcelo Gallardo has repeated his condemnation of the violent incidents faced by his team against Boca Juniors, while expressing his fear that such attacks could kill off local football if those responsible are not punished.
Gallardo was directing the River team when several players were attacked with a pepper spray substance, and stayed with his charges until it was confirmed that Thursday’s match had been called off. On Saturday, Conmebol took the decision to eliminate Boca from the Copa Libertadores and send the Millo through to the quarter-final, a ruling now appealed by the punished club.
«You cannot play with people’s lives. Football is dying little by little, and we are all involved. Those who have to make the decisions should start making them because we are getting worse with every day,» said Gallardo, breaking his silence after the shameful events of Thursday evening.
«We went to play a game, we came out to play and when we came back for the second half we were attacked. Nobody realised the severity of the situation. What happened could have been dramatic, and worse. And there are still doubts around us,» he added, criticising some commentators who have suggested River exaggerated the effects of the attack.
«The first four players were hit by the liquid through the broken sleeve, which was completely abandoned, without security. It was a desperate situation, because there were players lying on the floor with stinging eyes.»
Gallardo also slammed organisers for lack of common sense, in taking so long to confirm that the game had been cancelled.
«The players became more afraid as the minutes wore on because they saw that nobody was making the right call. We had to wait almost two hours for them to be seen to in a more suitable place. I tried to keep calm despite the anxiety and anger that was eating me up inside,» he fired.
«In these cases you have to try and keep calm and not react because it can work against you.
«I was ashamed by what I was seeing. For one of the most beautiful shows in the work to be brought into ridicule by a few idiots who think they are capable of spoiling everything. Those of us who love our profession and take pleasure in what we do, unfortunately have to be in situations we do not want and are unpleasant,» he added. But the coach also criticised his own players for a photo mocking Boca’s elimination, stating that the group picture was «wrong».
Source: Buenos Aires Herald