Few sporting events in the world can match the passion, chaos, and drama of the Copa Libertadores.
But beneath the thunderous chants and dazzling goals lies a world far less glamorous—a world marred by violence, corruption, and dark political intrigue. In The Dark Side of the Copa Libertadores, acclaimed Argentine journalist and author Luciano Wernicke peels back the glossy veneer to reveal the unsettling truths behind South America’s most prestigious football tournament.
With a career spanning over 20 sports books published in 30 countries and translated into 18 languages, Wernicke is no stranger to the complex interplay between football and society. His latest work is a gripping deep dive into the tournament’s untold stories of glory and disgrace, heroes and villains, and the emotional extremes that define football on the continent.
The book is a must read and is available to buy from Pitch Publishing and all good book stores.
In this article, we’re thrilled to share three exclusive extracts from the book – offering a raw, unfiltered glimpse into the unforgettable, and often disturbing, history of the Copa Libertadores.
The Grave (Chapter 1)
All over the world, referees are the easiest targets for fans’ fury. But in South America, that fury can boil over into something far more dangerous than a few flying beer cups. One of the most chilling incidents occurred in Venezuela on the night of 30 March 1978, following a 1-1 draw between Portuguesa FC and Olimpia of Paraguay at the José Antonio Páez stadium in Acarigua.
The match itself ended without major incident. But for Colombian referee Orlando Sánchez and his two assistants, the nightmare was just beginning. As the trio set off for Caracas after the game, their car was intercepted a few miles outside Acarigua by furious Portuguesa fans. Armed and enraged, the group dragged Sánchez from the vehicle, forced a shovel into his hands, and ordered him to dig his own grave at gunpoint.
Just as Sánchez began digging into the Venezuelan soil, several police patrols arrived and rescued the terrified officials. The fallout was significant: Portuguesa FC was fined $5,000 and banned from using their home stadium for a year. Sánchez, unsurprisingly, never returned to Venezuela.
Weddings (Chapter 8)
When Estudiantes de La Plata secured second place in Argentina’s 1967 national championship, they earned a ticket to the following year’s Copa Libertadores. But coach Osvaldo Zubeldía had more than just tactics on his mind.
In an extraordinary team meeting, he issued a surprise ultimatum: any player in a relationship who wanted to get married needed to do it immediately. The reason? A grueling schedule of matches and travel left no room for honeymoons during the 1968 season.
Future Argentina coach Carlos Bilardo, one of the bachelors on the team, recalls the moment in his autobiography Doctor and Champion:
“When it was my turn, I called Gloria [his girlfriend] at her house and, as soon as she answered me, I shot her: ‘Will you marry me?’ She didn’t understand anything! She answered yes, and when she asked me about the date, I answered: ‘Next week.’”
In total, eight Estudiantes players got married in a whirlwind of rushed ceremonies and frantic wedding planning. Bilardo himself married the day after Estudiantes beat River Plate 2-1 in their final match—first at the Civil Registry at noon, and then at a church ceremony in the afternoon, officiated by a priest who happened to be a die-hard fan of the club.
Bielsa and the Grenade (Chapter 8)
Marcelo Bielsa is known as “El Loco” for good reason—but even by his standards, this story defies belief.
In 1992, after Bielsa’s Newell’s Old Boys suffered a humiliating 6-0 loss at home to San Lorenzo in their Copa Libertadores group stage opener, angry fans from the club’s barra brava—the notoriously violent ultra faction—showed up at his home in Rosario.
According to accounts that Bielsa has never confirmed (but has also never denied), the young coach calmly greeted the protestors. But when the shouting turned to threats, Bielsa reached into his pocket and pulled out a hand grenade.
“If they don’t leave right now, I’ll take out the pin and throw it at them,” he reportedly said, eyes blazing.
The barra brava froze. And when Bielsa advanced toward them, grenade in hand, they bolted. One witness later claimed that Bielsa chased them for several blocks, warning that if they ever returned, there would be no second chances.
These snapshots are just a taste of the wild, often unbelievable history Luciano Wernicke documents in The Dark Side of the Copa Libertadores—a book that dives deep into the chaos, passion, and raw human drama that have defined South America’s greatest football tournament for decades. It’s football at its most unfiltered—and most unforgettable.
Featured image and extracts courtesy of Pitch Publishing.
Callum McFadden 
this is so disgusting. How can you give an official a shovel to di his own grave? Its unacceptable but I can imagine how they felt.