Independiente ground banned after crowd violence
Reuters - Wednesday 03 November 2010, 02:12
ASUNCION - Argentina's Independiente have
been fined $20,000 and ordered to play a Copa
Sudamericana match at a neutral venue after crowd trouble at
their home ground, the South American Football Confederation
(Conmebol) said on Tuesday.
Goalkeeper Martin Silva of visiting Uruguayan side Defensor
Sporting suffered a cut in his head from a stone thrown from
the terraces before the second half kick-off in the match at
Independiente's Libertadores de America stadium on October 19.
The Uruguayan team's officials wanted the match suspended
but the referee refused and Silva played on with his head
heavily bandaged.
Independiente won the second leg of the
second round tie 4-2 to reach the quarter-finals 4-3 on
aggregate.
"The incident was deemed an isolated occurrence, which
nevertheless deserves punishment by this confederation in order
to avoid a repeat of such acts," Conmebol said in a statement.
Independiente will play the second leg of their
quarter-final against Colombia's Deportes Tolima at
the neutral venue.
The Argentine club were also ordered to improve security at
their ground or risk greater sanctions if there is a repeat of
crowd violence.