Several meetings were held throughout the day. Representatives from the South American entity, the Uruguayan government, the Uruguayan Football Association and the clubs involved in the match were present.
The choice is mainly due to the location of the Centenário. The stadium has 60 thousand seats, while the Campeón Del Siglo has 40 thousand. This way, visitors are accommodated in greater security. Furthermore, the location is in a central area of the city and surrounded by parks, giving more space for people to move around and evacuate.
Another factor taken into consideration is the stadium’s experience in rivalry and large-scale games. In addition to national classics, the venue also hosted the 2021 Copa Libertadores final between Flamengo and Palmeiras, when the São Paulo club became champions.
Uruguayan authorities held a press conference to clarify the decision. The director of the National Police, José Manuel Azambuya, the head of state, Kerman Da Rosa, and the deputy executive director of the Police, Efraín Abreu, participated.
Many relevant matches were played at the Campeón del Siglo, but not with the magnitude of this one, with everything that happened in Brazil, including on public roads. We have intelligence information that we cannot share, and due to its nature we understand that the Peñarol stadium cannot host the game. The evacuation routes that Centenário has make it the best setting for the game
José Manuel Azambuya, director of the National Police of Uruguay
I was at Centenario Montevideo just a few hours ago. Diagnosis: the pitch is dark, there were still no goals and there were repairs going on in the stands where the press boxes are. pic.twitter.com/aAl2rkEkv4
— Braune (@brauneoficial) October 29, 2024
Uruguayan Football Decisions: The Centenario Chronicles
Ah, football decision-making at its finest! It’s the kind of drama that would make even Shakespeare break a sweat. Picture this: several meetings throughout the day, involving representatives from every nook and cranny of South American football. It’s like the council of Elders, but with shinier suits and slightly less wisdom. The Uruguayan government, the football association—everyone was there, bar my mates down the pub, who were busy trying to decide if buying an extra round was really necessary.
And why the glitzy Centenário Stadium, you ask? Well, good question, dear reader! It holds a whopping 60,000 seats, less of a stadium and more of a concrete coliseum! That’s enough room to host a small village’s worth of football fanatics. Meanwhile, the Campeón Del Siglo could only squeeze in 40,000 fans, which might be enough for a church congregation, but not quite enough for a football showdown, especially considering the delicious chaos that often ensues at these matches—think angry bees in a goal post.
Location, location, location! Centenário is in a prime spot, surrounded by parks. That’s right, parks! Because nothing says “football rivalry” like a good old stroll post-match, right? You can imagine the scene: fans frantically running to evacuate like they’ve just seen a bear at a picnic. Only in this case, the bear is wearing a rival jersey and looking for a fight. And let’s face it, who doesn’t love a bit of fresh air after a tense face-off between clubs?
Expertise at large-scale games! This stadium has seen it all—national classics and even the 2021 Copa Libertadores final, where Flamengo defeated Palmeiras. If the walls of this stadium could talk, they’d probably start a podcast called “If You Only Knew,” detailing the footballing madness it has witnessed. Who needs Netflix when you have history like this, folks?
At a press conference—an event which practically requires everyone to wear their “serious face”—the Uruguayan authorities laid it all out. “Listen up, folks,” they said, or something to that effect. By the way, how do you even become the director of police in Uruguay? Is it like a game of musical chairs but with handcuffs and a slightly scarier ambiance? Anyway, José Manuel Azambuya, Kerman Da Rosa, and Efraín Abreu took the podium to explain why the Centenário was chosen over any other venue.
“Many relevant matches were played at the Campeón del Siglo, but not with the magnitude of this one… We understand that the Peñarol stadium cannot host the game.”
—José Manuel Azambuya, Director of the National Police of Uruguay
Right, so apparently, they have “intelligence information” that they can’t share, which is comforting, isn’t it? Nothing screams “security” like a cryptic police statement! And with the sense of drama rising, it appears they believe Centenário’s escape routes are akin to an emergency exit on a plane—absolutely vital for the safe evacuation of a sea of football fans. Imagine the chaos—that sense of panic while trying to escape a stadium that’s packed tighter than a can of sardines!
I was at Centenario Montevideo just a few hours ago. Diagnosis: the pitch is dark, there were still no goals and there were repairs going on in the stands where the press boxes are.
— Braune (@brauneoficial) October 29, 2024
Ah, the classic ‘dark pitch’ situation! Is it a football match or an episode of “Fixer Upper”? All said and done, you have to appreciate the Uruguayan authorities for moving forward with such clarity and concern for fan safety. Because at the end of the day, where else can we gather with absolute strangers, united by our favorite team, potentially ready to throw hands—but ultimately just there for the love of the game? Cheers to football, humanity’s greatest distraction!
Representatives from various important entities gathered throughout the day for crucial meetings. Notable among those in attendance were officials from the South American football governing body, members of the Uruguayan government, the Uruguayan Football Association, and officials from the clubs directly involved in the highly anticipated match.
The decision to host the match at the Centenário Stadium was influenced primarily by its advantageous location. With a seating capacity of 60,000, the Centenário surpasses the 40,000-seat capacity of the Campeón Del Siglo, ensuring ample space for visitors while enhancing safety and security measures. Additionally, its central location within the city is encircled by lush parks, facilitating easier movement for attendees and streamlined evacuation procedures.
Another significant consideration in the decision-making process was the vast experience that Centenário has in accommodating high-stakes rivalries and major sporting events. The iconic stadium has been a battleground for numerous fierce national classics and notably hosted the thrilling 2021 Copa Libertadores final, where Flamengo triumphed over Palmeiras, marking a thrilling chapter in the competition’s history.
In an effort to elucidate the rationale behind the choice of the Centenário Stadium, Uruguayan authorities convened a press conference. Key figures in attendance included National Police Director José Manuel Azambuya, head of state Kerman Da Rosa, and Deputy Executive Director of the Police, Efraín Abreu, collectively addressing concerns and providing insights into the decisions made.
“Many relevant matches were played at the Campeón del Siglo,” noted José Manuel Azambuya, the director of the National Police of Uruguay, “but none of them matched the gravity of this one, especially considering the events that unfolded in Brazil, including disturbances on public roads. We have critical intelligence that we cannot disclose, and we believe, due to the nature of the situation, that the Peñarol stadium cannot accommodate this game. The Centenário’s established evacuation routes solidify it as the most suitable venue for this match.”
I was at Centenario Montevideo just a few hours ago. Diagnosis: the pitch is dark, there were still no goals and there were repairs going on in the stands where the press boxes are. pic.twitter.com/aAl2rkEkv4
— Braune (@brauneoficial) October 29, 2024
