CONMEBOL turns down appeal by Corinthians

Corinthians won the Copa Libertadores in 2012.

Nelson Almeida/AFP/Getty Images

ASUNCION, Paraguay (AP) -- The governing body of South American football on Tuesday turned down an appeal by Brazilian club Corinthians and ruled the team will have to play in an empty stadium for 60 days following the death last week of a 14-year-old boy.

CONMEBOL said in a statement that it was upholding the decision it made last week in imposing the 60-day penalty.

Kevin Beltran Espada died last week with head injuries caused by a flare thrown from the Corinthians fans section. A 17-year-old Corinthians fan has turned himself in to police after telling Brazilian television he had launched the device.

Twelve Corinthians fans implicated in the incident are being held in Bolivia and could face trial in the death. The prosecution has up to six months to formally file charges.

Lawyers for the Brazilian embassy are urging that the process be speeded up, and have alleged legal errors in the case.

The incident took place at a Copa Libertadores match at Bolivian club San Jose.

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