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
