Vasco’s São Januário stadium remains banned by court decision, which alleges lack of security at the site. With that, the club from Rio will need to send the classic against Fluminense at the Nilton Santos stadium, on September 16, at 4 pm (Brasília time), for the 23rd round of the Brazilian Championship. Cruzmaltino fans did not react well to another match without being able to be at home and mentioned that the measure violates the isonomy (right of equality) of the Brasileirão.
Considering that Maracanã is closed and São Januário remains interdicted by court decision, prevented from hosting matches with an audience, Vasco da Gama informs that the derby against Fluminense will be held at Estádio Nilton Santos.
The match valid for the 23rd round… pic.twitter.com/KP5F6KnV1t
— Vasco da Gama (@VascodaGama) September 5, 2023
The lack of equality cited by the fans is due to the impediment of playing at home, considered elitist because it is justified by public bodies because the surroundings of São Januário have communities. Part of Vasco da Gama also ask for the postponement of the match, since they cannot play at home and also at Maracanã, stopped for renovations in its lawns due to the final of the Copa do Brasil between Flamengo and São Paulo.
See some of the messages from Cruzmaltinos about the “Clássico dos Gigantes” being played at Nilton Santos, with also criticisms of the board demanding that they be tougher with the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) for banning their stadium.
With all due respect, they are preventing Vasco from playing at home.
This does not exist, it violates the equality of the championship. You SHOULD be tougher about this, but you’re not.
— Matheus Giuberti (@Giuberti10Mr) September 5, 2023
The word that sums it up is ABSURD. Vasco da Gama has a house, it’s SAO JANUÁRIO. WE HAVE NEVER SEEN SOMETHING SO SURREAL IN BRAZILIAN FOOTBALL. What they are doing is shameful and immoral. #liberemSaoJanuario
— Valery Arruda ◤✠◢ (@valeryarrais) September 5, 2023
The game was supposed to be in São Januário, home of Vasco. Absurd prohibition that disgustingly maintains
That said, better Engenhão than Volta Redonda. Let’s suffocate in the stands and win on the field.
— Helder Floret ✠ (@hfloret) September 5, 2023
Complete nonsense. They are forbidding us to play in our own home, ENDED the championship equality, Vasco has been harmed every game. There was supposed to be a stoppage and all that shit but NOTHING happens
— OKR4V ✠ (@EuSouVascaino_) September 5, 2023
Championship equality simply no longer exists. The only club that cannot play at home, even with all the reports. If this were a serious championship, the CBF itself would have already intervened and manifested itself. Shame!
— Yasmine (@mimsay_vic) September 5, 2023
Perfect. We’ll be there, but don’t stop fighting for our home. We want to play in São Januário! #LiberemSãoJanuário
— black ✠ (@ch7_henrique) September 5, 2023
Why is San Gennaro banned?
It all started with Vasco’s defeat by Goiás, on June 22. Disgusted, the fans threw fireworks and flares towards the lawn, in addition to trying to invade the lawn, requiring police force. The club from Rio de Janeiro was punished by the Superior Court of Sports Justice (STJD) with four matches without an audience at the stadium.
The punishment was fulfilled after the victory against Grêmio and, in the sporting sphere, the stadium should have been released on August 20, which did not happen. The Court of Justice of Rio de Janeiro (TJ-RJ) determined that Cruzmaltino’s house remained banned for an indefinite period. Last Wednesday (30), the Carioca court upheld the ban, and the club said it will appeal to the Superior Court of Justice.
“We will continue to fight. Vasco, Vasco fans and Barreira do Vasco can no longer be harmed. We will adopt all possible measures so that Vasco has his rights. Not only in relation to Maracanã, but as in the complete liberation of São Januário”, shot the club’s legal director, Gisele Cabrera.
The Barrier is the community surrounding the stadium, cited as one of the reasons for keeping São Januário interdicted. An excerpt from the report by the referee on duty in the match against Goiás, Marcello Rubioli, was revealed in early August and caused an uproar among the fans.
“To contextualize the total lack of conditions for the operation of the place, starting from the external area to the internal one, it can be seen (sic) that the entire complex is surrounded by the Vasco barrier community, from where there were commonly gunshots from the drug trafficking installed there, which creates a climate of insecurity to get to and from the stadium. They are narrow streets, with no escape area, which are always crowded with fans getting drunk before entering the stadium,” said Rubioli.
Vasco’s next matches
- Vasco x Fluminense – Brazilian Championship – Nilton Santos – Saturday (16/09), at 4 pm (Brasília time);
- Vasco x Coritiba – Brazilian Championship – Venue to be defined – Tuesday (9/19), at 7 pm (Brasília time);
- América-MG x Vasco – Brazilian Championship – Arena Independência – Saturday (09/23), at 6:30 pm (Brasília time);