FILE - In this May 14, 2015 file photo, Ramiro Funes Mori of Argentina's River Plate, center, and teammates wash their faces after pepper spray was sprayed at them from the stands, at the start of the second half of a Copa Libertadores soccer match against Boca Juniors in Buenos Aires, Argentina. On Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2016, Conmebol reduced sanctions against Boca Juniors from eight games closed to the public, to two, calling it a "measure of grace." (AP Photo/Victor R. Caivano, File)
The Associated Press
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) - Boca Juniors' ban for crowd violence last season in the Copa Libertadores tournament has been reduced from eight matches to two by South American soccer federation CONMEBOL.
The ban was imposed after Boca fans at La Bombonera stadium used mustard gas to attack players from Buenos Aires rival River Plate in a round of 16, second-leg match in May in South America's top club tournament.
CONMEBOL, at the center of a FIFA-related corruption scandal, said Tuesday the measure was a "pardon" in light of the Centennial Copa America coming up later this year in the United States.
Originally Boca was ordered to play its next four international home games in an empty stadium, and four away games without traveling fans. The new ban involves one home and one away match.
FILE - In this May 14, 2015 file photo, Argentina's Boca Juniors fans, one dressed as a ghost in reference to when River Plate descended to the "B" league, cheer for their team before a Copa Libertadores soccer match against River Plate in Buenos Aires, Argentina. On Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2016, Conmebol reduced sanctions against Boca Juniors from eight games closed to the public, to two, calling it a "measure of grace," in connection with a pepper spray attack on River Plate players at half time at this game. (AP Photo/Victor R. Caivano, File)
The Associated Press