Author: Vishwajit Sawant
In a twist in the Maracanã stadium saga, the match between Vasco and Atlético-MG will take place on Sunday, August 20, in the iconic Maracanã stadium. The decision was taken after the Rio de Janeiro courts accepted the appeal lodged by the club, allowing the stadium to be used for the decisive match. Despite the ongoing dispute between Vasco and the Fla-Flu duo over the use of the Maracanã, this particular match has an extra level of complexity. Vasco, who currently face restrictions on playing at their usual venue, São Januário, with an audience, were forced to look for an alternative.
The Maracanã stadium had already been banned by the Public Prosecutor’s Office as a result of the violent incidents that took place on June 22, after Vasco’s defeat to Goiás in the Serie A of the Brasileirão. Vasco has already served a four-game suspension, a sentence handed down by the STJD in relation to the aforementioned episode. As a result, Vasco played one match at the Raulino de Oliveira stadium in Volta Redonda and three matches at São Januário, all with closed gates, in accordance with Brazilian Championship regulations.
Despite the obstacles facing Vasco, the match against Atlético-MG will go ahead as planned, with kick-off scheduled for 11am (Brasilia time). Fans and enthusiasts will be closely watching this clash, which is not only important for the Brazilian Championship, but also highlights the complexities surrounding the use of the Maracanã, a stadium full of history and disputes.