Boca Juniors will "exhaust resources" and could appeal to FIFA to get the final 45 minutes of their abandoned Copa Libertadores match against River Plate restored.
The Argentine giants were expelled from the competition following Thursday night's violent clashes between their supporters and players for rivals River Plate, in which a Boca fan appeared to spray eye irritant into the visitor's entrance tunnel during halftime.
CONMEBOL gave Boca 24 hours to present evidence on their behalf before levying the penalty. And the club's lawyer acknowledges the six-time Libertadores champs' defence faces an uphill battle.
"It's not an easy defence," Eduardo Carlezzo said in an interview with Brazil's Sport TV on Sunday. "Those images were strong and made their way around the world. Boca knew they could give out a heavy sanction. There was huge pressure to make it so when we arrived in Asuncion [CONMEBOL's headquarters], but still we will exhaust resources available. And once we have CONMEBOL's final decision, we could appeal to FIFA."
In addition to their elimination from the tournament, Boca will also play their next four continental home games behind closed doors, have no traveling supporters at their next four continental away games, and pay a $200,000 fine.
Thursday's second leg of the round of 16 turned to chaos at the start of the second half as River players stumbled onto the field to start the second half of the scoreless match covering their faces, rubbing their eyes and dousing themselves with bottles of water after the alleged incident.
In their sanctions, CONMEBOL also warned Boca that any repeat offences would lead to more penalties, though for the moment the club has escaped a potential penalty of being banned from future tournaments.