Vasco president Pedrinho has labeled the potential need to play an international match abroad as cowardice, as the battle for the Maracanã reaches higher courts.
The legal battle in Brazilian courts over the use of the Maracanã has reached a heated new chapter, involving the leadership of Vasco da Gama and the stadium’s management.
The trigger for the recent escalation in public statements was the imminent possibility of the club having to host its decisive international matchup far from home, sparking a strong reaction from the Vasco president against the stance of the Flamengo administration and the concessionaire in charge.
The controversy centers on the second leg of the Copa Sudamericana semifinal against Boca Juniors, scheduled for October 20.
Faced with previous court denials and regulatory requirements, CONMEBOL signaled the possibility of moving the match to Asunción, Paraguay, should the iconic Rio de Janeiro venue remain off-limits due to injunctions.
Pedrinho’s outrage and the defense of the agreement
In a recent interview with ESPN, the head of the São Januário club did not hold back, detailing the reasons why the institution is seeking to use the temple of Rio de Janeiro football.
According to the former player and current president, the prospect of playing outside the state hurts the team’s competitive chances and ignores agreements previously signed between the Rio giants.
Pedrinho stated:
I only asked to play at the Maracanã because I am being barred and unable to meet certain CONMEBOL criteria. The Flamengo president claims he does not recognize the contract, even though it was signed by both Fla and Flu. It is an act of cowardice against the institution and the competition.
The executive highlighted the institutional friction with the rival leadership.
On the Flamengo side, the board has chosen to shield the football department from these legal disputes, although they maintain concerns regarding the preservation of the pitch.
Director of football José Boto compared the situation to managing a private home, pointing to concerns over the accelerated wear and tear of the pitch ahead of a marathon of decisive matches in the final stretch of the season.
Legal battle and the pitch factor
While executives trade barbs in the press, the legal saga moves through different courts.
Fla-Flu Serviços S.A. has appealed to the Superior Court of Justice (STJ) to request a stay of execution, following a decision by judge Joaquim Domingos de Almeida Neto of the TJRJ to reinstate authorization for the match, supported by public safety reports and the high demand for tickets by Vasco fans.
The concessionaire’s main argument lies in the integrity of the pitch, which was recently replaced following major events, and the necessity for rigorous maintenance between consecutive matches.
The technical concern becomes even more relevant considering that Flamengo has a crucial Copa Libertadores match on the same turf just 48 hours later, in addition to technical inspections scheduled by the South American governing body.
The final resolution of this impasse is expected to set the tone for upcoming derbies and knockout matches in Brazilian football.
With a congested calendar and pressure from supporters, the shared management of the state’s main sports venue remains one of the greatest political and logistical challenges for the clubs involved in this decisive final stretch of the year.
