Corinthians will play their 2013 Copa Libertadores games behind closed doors after their appeal against the punishment was dismissed by the Conmebol Disciplinary Tribunal.
The reigning Libertadores champions have been hit with the sanctions after the death of 14-year-old Bolivian supporter Kevin Espada at the club’s away fixture with San José last week. The youngster tragically died after being hit by a naval flare fired by the Corinthians support.
The punishment imposed by Conmebol will remain in place for the next 60 days until the outcome of a full investigation into the incident is completed.
The club will now be forced to reimburse the 30,000 supporters who have already purchased tickets for this week’s fixture with Colombian side Milionarios, as well as future games with Tijuana and San José.
The separate criminal investigation into the incident remains ongoing with a 17-year-old in Brazil having accepted responsibility for firing the flare. That story, though, is doubted by the Bolivian authorities currently dealing with the matter.
Source: Lancenet
