Behind the scenes of the Libertadores: Palmeiras and Fluminense clash over disagreements regarding the number of tickets allocated to visiting fans for the tournament’s semifinal.
The final stretch of the Conmebol Libertadores sets the stage for a clash of giants between Palmeiras and Fluminense, but the tension behind the scenes is already mounting even before the ball starts rolling. The main point of contention involves the logistics for visiting supporters, with both clubs disagreeing on the capacity to be made available at Allianz Parque and the Maracanã.
While the Rio de Janeiro club advocates for a strict application of the governing body’s regulations, Palmeiras is seeking a reduction in the allocation. This administrative issue puts the principle of reciprocity between the institutions to the test, as they now race against the clock to finalize the details before the decisive matches scheduled for October.
The regulatory standoff
The Fluminense board was categorical when approached to discuss semifinal logistics. The ‘Tricolor’ club communicated that it will not back down from following Conmebol regulations, which establish an allocation of four thousand tickets for visitors. Palmeiras’ proposal was to reduce that number to two thousand, seeking reciprocity at both stadiums.
For Palmeiras, the central argument is security. The club claims logistical difficulties in accessing its stadium and emphasizes that public security authorities in São Paulo impose restrictions that make it difficult to accommodate the full quota of away fans during high-profile matches.
Precedents and requirements
Recent history is weighing heavily at the negotiating table. In 2023, during the semifinal against Internacional, Fluminense fully complied with the regulations, making four thousand tickets available to the visitors from Rio Grande do Sul. The Rio club believes that, having maintained that standard on previous occasions, compliance with the rules should be reciprocal in any international competition.
The M360 Team points out:
The boards have a great relationship, which has facilitated the dialogue, despite operational disagreements regarding the maximum capacity in the visiting section.
Next steps
To try to resolve the situation, Palmeiras requested that Fluminense formalize its requirement for full compliance with the rules via official correspondence. The São Paulo club is now expected to seek special authorization from state security agencies to expand the capacity of the sector, attempting to find a solution that meets Conmebol requirements without compromising match operations.
The first legs of the semifinals are scheduled for the week of October 13, with the return legs following shortly after, in the week of October 20. Until then, the hope is that dialogue will prevail to prevent bureaucracy from affecting the spectacle.
