Vasco president Pedrinho to take Maracanã row to court over Boca second leg | OneFootball

Vasco president Pedrinho says he will go to court to host the Copa Sudamericana semi-final second leg against Boca Juniors at the Maracanã on 20 October.

“I will take the Maracanã issue to court, even today. My priority against Boca is São Januário, even if that means 4,000 away tickets. If São Januário is denied, I will take the Maracanã to court,” he told CazéTV.

He listed São Januário as first choice, the Maracanã second and Nilton Santos third. Sudamericana rules require stadiums of at least 30,000 from the semi-finals and a minimum of 4,000 away tickets, so São Januário needs an exemption and an expanded away end, which he is discussing with the authorities.

The Maracanã consortium, run by Flamengo and Fluminense, has again rejected Vasco’s request, citing fixture load and pitch works.

Botafogo have offered Nilton Santos, but Boca are against playing on synthetic turf.

October’s schedule tightens availability. The Maracanã hosts Flamengo v Fluminense on 11 October, Fluminense v Palmeiras on 14, Flamengo return on 22 for their second leg, and Flamengo are away on 15. A Vasco game on 20 would leave only two days of recovery for the surface.

Vasco must confirm a venue at least 10 days before the match, setting a 10 October deadline. The first leg is on 13 October at 21:30 at La Bombonera, with the return a week later in Rio. Atlético-MG face Montevideo City Torque (URU) in the other semi-final.

Source: Coluna Do Fla

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