In a new decision, the Rio Court suspended the authorization for Vasco da Gama to face Boca Juniors, from Argentina, at Maracanã, in the Sul-Americana. The match is scheduled for October 20th, at 9:30 pm.
The decision was made by the 1st vice-president of the Court of Justice, judge Suely Lopes Magalhães, who granted an injunction in favor of the Fla-Flu Serviços Consortium, suspending the effects of the decision that had determined that the consortium made the Estádio Jornalista Mário Filho (Maracanã) available for the match between Vasco and Boca Juniors, valid for the semi-final of Conmebol Sulamericana, to be held.
In a statement, Vasco da Gama informed that it has already presented an urgent request to judge Suely Lopes Magalhães, first vice-president of the TJRJ, to reestablish the authorization to use Maracanã against Boca Juniors.
The petition, dated October 10, seeks to reverse the decision that suspended the effects of the authorization granted the previous day.
The club's argument is that "changing the stadium at this time does not just mean changing the address of the match. It means reorganizing an international event which, according to the club, already has 46,014 tickets sold."
Vasco's defense document also mentions that a transfer would require reviewing sectors, seats, access, ticket validity and possible refunds. It would also be necessary to adapt the planned structure for approximately 250 press professionals and reformulate security planning. The petition cites the forecast of 50 to 60 buses of visiting fans.
Regarding security, Vasco recognizes that the PM considered Nilton Santos viable, but highlights “that the Specialized Stadium Policing Battalion (Bepe) maintained Maracanã as a preferred alternative, due to its infrastructure, accessibility and organizational conditions”.
Injunction
Authorization had been granted last Friday (9), by the presidency of the 23rd Chamber of Private Law of the TJRJ, authorizing Vasco to play at Maracanã.
“In view of the above, I grant the injunction to suspend the effects of the decision handed down by judge Marco Antônio Ibrahim in the files of the Interlocutory Appeal, until the judgment of this writ of mandamus by the Special Body of the Court of Justice”, wrote the judge.
Judge Suely Magalhães ordered that Clube de Regatas Vasco da Gama be notified about the decision, in order to take the appropriate measures in relation to communicating to the bodies responsible for the competition about the location where the match will be held, as well as about the sale of tickets.
“Vasco must be notified immediately of this decision through the means available on duty, including by a Court Official, so that it can adopt, within the regulatory deadline, the measures it deems appropriate regarding the indication of the sports venue to Conmebol and the sale of tickets.”
The judge also ordered that the Military Police be informed, in the São Januário club's summons, that the Nilton Santos Stadium, in Engenho de Dentro, is capable of hosting the match.
The 1st vice-president considered that the previous decision, which had guaranteed Vasco da Gama the right to play the match against Boca Juniors at Maracanã, was taken without the Fla-Flu consortium having the opportunity to comment.
The judge also warned of the risk of the match being held at Maracanã, since, on the same date, the game between Flamengo and Botafogo in the National Basketball League is scheduled at Maracanãzinho, located next to the stadium.
"It is also worth adding the notorious fact that on the same night as the football match between Vasco da Gama and Boca Juniors, the game between Flamengo and Botafogo for the National Basketball League will take place at the Maracanãzinho stadium. Therefore, there is an obvious public safety risk in allowing the confluence of three rival fans in the same sports venue", explained the judge.
In the opinion of the 1st vice-president of TJRJ, the decision does not prevent the match from taking place.
“The suspension of the decision does not prevent the match; it reestablishes the previous situation, in which Vasco da Gama had, to comply with the competition regulations, the Nilton Santos Stadium, whose suitability for the event the Military Police confirmed and which, in the last two years, hosted the Libertadores semi-final, the Recopa final and the round of 16 of the Sulamericana”, wrote judge Suely Magalhães.
