According to Conmebol, Flamengo and Estudiantes will play their Copa Libertadores semifinal matches on October 15 and 22, with the opening leg in Argentina and the return leg in Brazil. However, the venue for the La Plata club’s home leg remains unconfirmed due to stadium capacity rules.
Stadium Capacity Impasse at Estádio Jorge Luis Hirschi
According to the Conmebol Club Manual cited by O Globo, semifinal matches must take place in stadiums holding at least 30,000 people, with a visiting sector accommodating at least 4,000 supporters. While the Estádio Jorge Luis Hirschi, known as UNO, holds a total capacity of 32,000, its visiting section fits only 2,000 people. This discrepancy has left the fixture listed as “to be confirmed” in official schedules.
Sporting News notes that the venue issue surfaced after Estudiantes eliminated Corinthians in the quarterfinals. The stadium underwent modernizing renovations in 2019, but the away sector structure remains a hurdle for continental fixtures.
Negotiations Between Clubs and Potential Alternative Venues
Estudiantes president Juan Sebastián Verón stated to ESPN that the club will do everything possible to play at UNO. According to Lance!, Verón acknowledged that keeping the match in La Plata depends on negotiations with Flamengo and approval from Conmebol.
According to reporting from O Globo, Flamengo is open to dialogue but insists on securing all 4,000 seats safely. Potential compromises include restructuring another area of the UNO stadium for visitors or applying a reciprocity policy that limits visiting allocations for both legs. If an agreement fails, Argentine media outlets report that alternative venues like Racing’s Cilindro de Avellaneda or Lanús’s La Fortaleza could host the fixture.
Similar Dispute Affects Fluminense and Palmeiras Semifinal
According to source reporting, a parallel dispute impacts the other semifinal matchup between Fluminense and Palmeiras. Conmebol confirmed that Palmeiras will host the return leg on October 21 at the Nubank Parque, which currently features a visiting sector capacity of 2,000. Fluminense awaits formalization after receiving positive signals that adjustments will be made to accommodate their 4,000 allotted seats, with Palmeiras in active talks with public security authorities in São Paulo.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will the Estudiantes vs. Flamengo semifinal matches take place?
According to Conmebol, the first leg is scheduled for October 15, and the return leg will be played on October 22 at the Maracanã in Rio de Janeiro.
Why is the venue for the first leg unconfirmed?
According to tournament regulations, the visiting fan sector must accommodate at least 4,000 people, whereas the Estádio UNO currently fits 2,000 visiting supporters.
What alternative stadiums are being considered?
According to Argentine media reports, Racing’s Cilindro de Avellaneda and Lanús’s La Fortaleza are listed as potential alternatives if Estudiantes cannot secure a waiver or venue adjustment.
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