BUENOS AIRES, Nov. 24 -- Boca Juniors forward Carlos Tevez said a decision to play the second leg of the Copa Libertadores final on Saturday defied the wishes of the club's players.
The match was postponed by more than two hours after Boca's team bus was attacked by River Plate fans less than an hour before the scheduled kickoff.
Several players required medical treatment for cuts caused by bottles and other projectiles that smashed the vehicle's glass windows as it made its way to River's Monumental Stadium.
Others were left queasy by tear gas, which police had fired in an effort to disperse fans.
"We are not in a state to play the match but we are being forced to," Tevez told reporters. "I understand that there is a lot of pressure to play the match because the FIFA president [Gianni Infantino] is here ... but the truth is it's very difficult."
The former Manchester United, Manchester City and Juventus player added: "No River player came to our dressing room to show solidarity with us."
Originally scheduled to start at 5pm local time, the match was shifted to 7:15pm after emergency talks between South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) officials and representatives of both clubs.
Boca had asked for the game to be suspended, claiming their players were physically and psychologically affected by the incident.
"Our position is that the match should not go ahead. You can't play under these conditions," Boca Juniors vice president Dario Richarte said.
Boca captain Pablo Perez was one of the worst-affected players and was taken to hospital in an ambulance after being struck in the eye with shards of broken glass.
Others that needed medical attention were Sebastian Villa, Julio Buffarini and Augustin Almendra, according to local news reports.
Boca and River drew 2-2 in the first leg at Boca's La Bombonera earlier this month.
It is the first time that Argentina's famous rivals have met in the final of South America's premier club competition.