Particle.news

Maracanã Denies Vasco Request for Sudamericana Semifinal Return

The refusal forces Vasco to seek a CONMEBOL exception for undersized São Januário or to pursue legal action.

Overview

  • Three outlets report that the Flamengo–Fluminense consortium managing the Maracanã rejected Vasco’s rental request, citing a packed schedule and concern for the pitch.
  • Vasco faces an October 10 deadline from CONMEBOL to confirm the stadium for the second leg of the Copa Sudamericana semifinal and has opened urgent talks with the federation.
  • Club president Pedrinho has publicly asked CONMEBOL president Alejandro Domínguez for flexibility while also saying he may increase visitor capacity at São Januário and explore judicial remedies.
  • Vasco offered to cut the roughly 4,000 away-ticket allocation required by regulations and to reciprocate when Boca hosts, but Boca rejected the proposal, complicating a negotiated fix for fans.
  • With São Januário below CONMEBOL’s usual 30,000-seat minimum, the club is again considering Estadio Nilton Santos (Engenhão) despite its synthetic turf, and the dispute follows prior denials by Maracanã management for other Vasco matches.