12 December 2012 - The Copa Sudamericana Goes South

On 12 December 2012, São Paulo won the Copa Sudamericana after Tigre, their opponents in the final, refused to play the second half.

The final was scheduled to be played over two legs, with the first ending in a scoreless draw in Buenos Aires on 5 December. When the teams reconvened in São Paulo for the second leg a week later, the hosts went up 2-0 in the first half with goals from Lucas Moura (22') and Osvaldo (28').

But when São Paulo stepped out for the second half, they were the only team there. Tigre refused to come out of the locker room, claiming that they were attacked during the break by group of about twenty men, including police officers. Tigre manager Nestor Gorosito said that the police pulled guns on his players and even pointed one directly at goalkeeper Damian Albil, while other players were beaten with sticks. Video of a blood-stained locker room appeared to confirm Gorosito's account.

Tigre lodged a formal complaint, but the Copa Sudamericana organizers handed the title to São Paulo.