Boca, no away fans in Chile: Universidad Católica statement | OneFootball

The hopes of thousands of Boca fans of crossing the Andes and supporting the team in the Copa Libertadores suffered a major blow. Through an official statement released this Monday, Universidad Católica confirmed that the Group D match will be played under a strict locals-only policy.

As we had previously reported on this site, the Chilean club confirmed that the Metropolitan Presidential Delegation notified them that the match must be played without away supporters in order to guarantee the safety of those attending and protect the area around the stadium. Given this situation, the home club said it accepts the decision and understands the complexity of organizing an event of this magnitude under such public security restrictions.

In the same document, Cruzados revealed that it held talks with Boca’s leadership in an attempt to reach an agreement that would allow a controlled and safe allocation for Argentine fans. However, the parties were unable to finalize the deal in time to formally submit it to the relevant authorities, which led to the definitive confirmation of the ban on supporters of the club from La Ribera.

Universidad Católica’s Claro Arena stadium, where Boca will play its first match in the 2026 Copa Libertadores

The Chilean side intended to grant only 450 tickets to Xeneize supporters, but Boca’s leadership stood firm and demanded that the minimum required by the South American Football Confederation be met: 2,000 seats.

Finally, Universidad Católica’s leadership confirmed that it has already formally notified CONMEBOL of this decision, ensuring compliance with all the regulatory deadlines set for the international competition.

Boca without fans in Chile: the full statement

Regarding the Group D match of the CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores between Universidad Católica and Boca Juniors, scheduled at Claro Arena on April 7, 2026, Cruzados reports the following:

Today, the Metropolitan Presidential Delegation informed us that the match must be played without the presence of away supporters, with the aim of guaranteeing the safety of those attending the event and the surrounding area of the venue.

Católica issued a press statement.

Without prejudice to complying with and understanding the authority’s decision, Cruzados sought an agreement with the opposing team aimed at ensuring the presence of away fans at Universidad Católica’s stadium, in appropriate numbers to guarantee a safe experience for both local and visiting attendees. However, this agreement was not possible and could not be submitted in time to the relevant authorities.

Cruzados informed CONMEBOL of this decision, thus complying with the regulatory deadlines established for this competition by the organizer.

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