Santos to play Copa Sul-Americana second leg at Vila Belmiro after rivals refuse stadium loans | OneFootball

Santos will not be able to play the second leg of the Copa Sul-Americana round of 16 play-offs in São Paulo next Tuesday at 21:30 Brasília time against Universidad Central. The match will instead take place at Vila Belmiro.

According to Globo.com, the club approached five different stadiums and each request was declined for various reasons.

Top of the list was Morumbis, where pitch works are ongoing and São Paulo swiftly rejected a rental. Next came Neo Química Arena, with Corinthians also replacing the grass, and the request was vetoed.

Pacaembu is booked for Henrique e Juliano concerts on the first and second of August, making set-up and dismantling unfeasible in time. Canindé was considered, though it does not meet Conmebol requirements for Sul-Americana fixtures.

Santos spent recent hours negotiating with WTorre over using Nubank Parque, home of Palmeiras, but two Xuxa shows are scheduled there on 25 and 31. The stadium would only be available if the match date changed, an option Conmebol has ruled out.

Source: Globo.com