Copa Libertadores semifinals face stadium capacity disputes

The upcoming Copa Libertadores semifinals are facing logistical challenges due to CONMEBOL regulations regarding visitor capacity. The tournament rules require stadiums to accommodate at least 4,000 away fans for the semifinal stage.

In the matchup between Estudiantes and Flamengo, Estudiantes' Jorge Luis Hirschi stadium currently only allows 2,000 visiting supporters. Club president Juan Sebastián Verón is negotiating with Flamengo to potentially allow a reciprocal reduction of tickets for both legs of the series to keep the matches at the UNO stadium. If an agreement is not reached, Estudiantes may need to move the game to alternative venues like El Cilindro or Estadio Ciudad de Lanús.

Similarly, a dispute has emerged between Fluminense and Palmeiras. Fluminense is demanding the full 4,000-ticket allocation for away fans as per regulation, while Palmeiras has proposed a reciprocal arrangement of 2,000 tickets per match. The impasse at Palmeiras' Nubank Parque is partly due to local São Paulo Military Police restrictions that currently limit visiting crowds to 2,000. CONMEBOL is expected to meet with the clubs to discuss these stadium and security issues.