The ugly episode which saw Boca Juniors and River Plate’s Copa Libertadores clash abandoned was another dark chapter in Argentine football history but the implications of this and the subsequent penalties from CONMEBOL might have an impact on the continent’s World Cup qualification. It is reported that FIFA are considering taking South America’s playoff spot, which the side that finishes fifth earns, after clashing with CONMEBOL over their punishment of Boca Juniors.

Prior to CONMEBOL announcing that the penalty sanctioned to Boca was them being disqualified from this year’s Libertadores, playing their next four home matches behind closed doors, not being able to take away fans for a further four matches and a fine of $200,000 the thought was that the punishment would be far greater. Whispers of an international ban for one or two years and La Bombonera being closed were heard and FIFA itself took the stance that the maximum penalty should be dealt.

Needless to say in that case, FIFA were not too pleased with the perceived leniency of Boca’s punishment and could yet punish CONMEBOL over World Cup allocation.

Since the death of Julio Grondona, South America has lost a huge amount of it’s power in FIFA and with Sepp Blatter desperate for votes in an election year, giving an extra World Cup spot to another confederation should win him some favour.

With this in mind, it is unlikely that the violence in the superclásico and the punishment for this is the sole reason behind any potential change in qualification. However, disobeying FIFA may well have been the final straw and so for Russia 2018, South America will have just four qualification spots with the side finishing fifth no longer going to play the playoff match.

Argentina will hopefully not require such a route to the World Cup in Russia but it would be a huge blow to the other nations in South America vying for qualification in a very competitive group.