Vasco settle on venue for Boca Juniors after Maracanã veto | OneFootball

Vasco has lined up São Januário as the venue for the second leg of the Copa Sudamericana semifinal against Boca Juniors. The decision comes after being denied permission to use the Maracanã and puts Vasco’s stadium at the center of discussions surrounding the matchup.

RTI Esporte Agency has learned that the choice still depends on authorization from Conmebol. São Januário’s capacity, just over 30,000 seats, is below the standard normally required by the governing body for matches in the decisive stages of its competitions.

Vasco is working to obtain an exceptional waiver and is counting on Conmebol’s support to make it possible to hold the match at its own home ground. The Argentine club’s board also reportedly has not opposed the possibility.

São Januário gains momentum for the semifinal

The alternative gained traction after Flamengo and Fluminense refused to make the Maracanã available to Vasco. The stadium had been the first option for a match with major attendance and revenue potential.

Vasco’s board has already decided to use São Januário in the Copa do Brasil semifinal. In the Sudamericana, however, the decision involves specific Conmebol requirements, mainly related to the stadium’s capacity and infrastructure.

Maracanã once again left out of the plans

The rejection for the continental semifinal extends a conflict Vasco has had with the Maracanã’s administrators. Flamengo and Fluminense had also refused to let the club use the stadium in the Copa do Brasil quarterfinals against Vitória.

The relationship has deteriorated and has also reached the courts. In recent weeks, Vasco filed another motion in a case pending in Rio since 2023 against Flamengo, with Fluminense listed as an interested party.

The dispute involves incidents related to the use of the Maracanã. One of the points challenged by Vasco was an accusation that the pitch had been left “full of holes” after a match against Palmeiras in 2023.

Vasco’s board challenged the report prepared by a specialized company submitted in the case and cited previous court rulings that, according to its argument, disregarded the document.

The Giant of the Hill also pointed out that Flamengo and Fluminense played nine matches at the Maracanã in April of that year, an argument used to challenge the way the stadium had been managed.

The choice will have a financial impact

Using São Januário represents a sporting solution, but it also reduces crowd capacity compared to the Maracanã. In a continental semifinal, the difference could have a direct impact on the club’s revenue.

On the other hand, playing at its own home ground reduces dependence on the stadium run by its rivals and keeps the match within a setting familiar to Vasco. The final decision is now in Conmebol’s hands.

If the governing body authorizes São Januário, Vasco will be able to host Boca Juniors at the stadium. Otherwise, it will have to look for another alternative. The deadlock goes beyond choosing the venue and involves sporting, financial, and legal issues for the club.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.