Boca await venue for Sudamericana semi as Vasco denied Maracanã use | OneFootball

Boca await the venue for their Copa Sudamericana semi-final second leg on 20 October, after a Brazilian court denied Vasco da Gama permission to use the Maracaná due to the state of the pitch.

According to LaNumer12.com.ar, judge Adriana Marques dos Santos Laia Franco ruled the conditions were not in place because of contradictions in technical reports on turf care. The stadium consortium argued hosting the tie would risk the surface's recovery and affect the season calendar.

Vasco maintains the match would not cause irreversible damage, but the court opted for caution amid the lack of absolute certainty. The uncertainty complicates Boca's logistics and scheduling, with staff awaiting a final resolution.

The South American confederation requires Vasco to confirm a venue in Rio de Janeiro by 10 October. If they move to another city, the deadline is today.

Estadio Nilton Santos is viewed as a viable option and has been recommended in Military Police reports. Even so, the hosts' priority is to take Boca to São Januário.

Capacity is the main obstacle, with a minimum of 30,000 required at this stage. São Januário has approval to expand to 24,000 seats, which still falls short, so Vasco would need further permits, accept an approved alternative or lodge an urgent appeal.

For Boca, patience and sharp planning are essential. Pitch size, surroundings and surface conditions could prove decisive as they look to secure a place in the final.

Source: LaNumer12.com.ar

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”