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Colo Colo Hit With Bad News Ahead of River Plate Clash in Copa Libertadores
Midfielder Vicente Pizarro underwent surgery on Wednesday for a mandibular fracture he sustained the day before during Chile's 1-2 loss to Bolivia. As a result, he will miss Colo Colo's Copa Libertadores quarterfinal match against River Plate on September 17, the club announced.
The 21-year-old midfielder is a key player in Argentine coach Jorge Almirón’s system. He has featured in 10 of the 12 matches Colo Colo has played in the Copa Libertadores, including two qualifying rounds.
Pizarro was elbowed in the face, leading to his transport by ambulance to a clinic in Santiago, where the jaw fracture was diagnosed.
He will miss both the home and away matches against River Plate and will also be unavailable for Chile’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Brazil and Colombia.
Pizarro is set to miss four Chilean league matches in October against Cobresal, Unión La Calera, Audax Italiano, and Huachipato.
Colo Colo currently holds second place in the local tournament, trailing Universidad de Chile by four points.
The club will receive financial compensation from FIFA for Pizarro’s injury, as it occurred during an official national team match, and his recovery will take more than 28 days.
The rule states that football clubs in this situation can receive a maximum of “up to €7.5 million per player per incident,” based on “the fixed salary the football club pays directly to the player as an employee.”
Colo Colo was granted permission to postpone the scheduled league clash against Universidad Católica, originally set for September 13.
Colo Colo’s next match will be against River Plate at the Estadio Monumental in Chile’s capital.