Vasco takes Maracanã protest to the streets of Rio | OneFootball

A banner carried by Vasco supporters has been making its way through different parts of Rio de Janeiro in a mobilization for the club’s right to use the Maracanã. The action has already been seen at the stadium, in São Januário, at Aterro do Flamengo, in Downtown, and in the Port Zone.

RTI Esporte Agency has learned that the movement created profiles on Instagram and X under the name “The Maraca also belongs to Vasco” and @vasconomaraca to promote the action and demand compliance with the bidding terms agreed upon by the parties.

This Wednesday, the 30th, the group called on Vasco fans to post photos with the message “the Maraca also belongs to Vasco.” The banner also passed by the statue of Bellini, a former club player and captain of Brazil in 1958.

Banner mentions concession rules

The messages used in the campaign include phrases such as “São Januário is mine and the Maraca is ours! Comply with the bidding terms” and “Respect the bidding terms or revoke the tender.” The mobilization also questions the holding of other events at the complex.

One of the campaign pieces compares Vasco’s crest, presented as “forbidden,” with an American football and a guitar, labeled as “allowed,” in reference to the NFL Rio Game and the concerts held at the stadium.

The organizers cite two points of the bidding terms. Item 3.4 gives priority to official matches organized by FIFA, Conmebol, CBF, and Ferj, while item 3.2.6 provides for non-discriminatory treatment of Rio de Janeiro’s main clubs and their supporters.

Dispute gained momentum in August

The relationship between Vasco and the Maracanã administration entered a new chapter in August, when the club asked to host its Copa do Brasil match against Vitória at the stadium. The request was denied, and the August 26 match ended up being played at São Januário.

The Giant of the Hill appealed to the Rio de Janeiro courts and cited a memorandum of understanding that provided for four matches per year chosen by the club. The concessionaire challenged the validity of the document.

Request for Boca match reignites discussion

The dispute returned to the spotlight after Vasco formally made a new request to use the Maracanã against Boca Juniors in the Copa Sudamericana. The second leg of the semifinal is scheduled for October 20 at 9:30 p.m. Brasília time.

If it cannot secure the stadium, Vasco will need to look for another alternative. São Januário does not meet the minimum 30,000-seat capacity required by Conmebol for this stage, and Nilton Santos is among the possibilities.

The proximity to Flamengo vs. Estudiantes, scheduled for October 22, has also become part of the discussion. In 2026, for example, the Maracanã has already hosted nine sequences of matches with intervals of up to 48 hours.

The administration says the denials to Vasco are due to the condition of the pitch, not any restriction against the club. In September, CEO Fred Nantes acknowledged problems with the field and presented a maintenance schedule through the end of the season.

According to the consortium that manages the Maracanã, the number of matches, the weather, and the pitch’s recovery time weigh on scheduling decisions. While the dispute continues, supporters have stepped up the pressure in the streets of Rio de Janeiro.

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