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Dream River-Boca final ends in nightmare as Argentine football shows off its dark side

Violence, incompetence, chaos and shambolic organisation: those failings were reflected for all the world to see on a shameful Saturday afternoon

It was supposed to be a celebration of the passion, the colour and the sounds of Argentine football, an unprecedented spectacle the whole country could share in as River Plate and Boca Juniors dispute the Copa Libertadores final for the first time in history.

Those tuning in from around the world on Saturday certainly did get a taste of the local football scene. What they did not see was a single ball being kicked in anger.