Vasco da Gama sets up special security operation to host 4,000 Boca fans in Sudamericana clash

Hosting 4,000 Boca fans in the heart of Rio de Janeiro is no small task, and Vasco da Gama knows it. That's why, with the Copa Sudamericana semifinal fast approaching, the Rio club's front office is already racing against the clock to put together an operation that lets them host the second leg against Juan Roman Riquelme's team without any hiccups.

Everything gets settled this Wednesday the 30th in a key meeting. The Rio de Janeiro State Football Federation (FERJ) will be on hand, backing Vasco as the club presents a special protocol to the Specialized Stadium Police Battalion (BEPE-PMERJ), the body that has to sign off before the visiting fans can enter Sao Januario.

The plan the club has put on the table doesn't skimp on detail: it covers everything from the arrival of the bus carrying the Boca delegation to the precise transport logistics for the 4,000 Argentine fans traveling to Brazil. It also touches on a sensitive point, cutting down the buffer zone between the two fan sections inside the stadium, something that tends to spark debate among security officials in matches like this one.

To get the BEPE approval unstuck, Vasco isn't going it alone. The club has the backing of the FERJ, which is acting as an institutional bridge to speed up the necessary permits ahead of October 20.

Confirmed dates, and a negotiation that dragged on

The first leg between Boca and Vasco will be played Tuesday, October 13 at 9:30 p.m. (Argentine time), while the return match in Brazil has been set for Tuesday, October 20, at the same time, though the stadium is still to be confirmed.

The curious part is that Vasco initially tried to cut down on the number of visiting fans. The club offered 2,700 spots for Boca supporters and even floated the idea of giving up the full allotment of 4,000 tickets it's entitled to at La Bombonera, which happens to be the minimum required under Conmebol rules for these matchups.

Club president Pedrinho was banking on his good relationship with Riquelme to sort things out, but there was no wiggle room on Boca's side: the club demanded the full 4,000 spots, no cuts.

And that brings up another chapter of the story: the stadium. Without authorization from the Consortium run by Flamengo and Fluminense to use the Maracana, the remaining option on the table is the Nilton Santos. The problem is that Boca isn't thrilled with that choice, mainly because the playing surface there is artificial turf.

Between security protocols, ticket allotment negotiations and the uncertainty over the stadium, there's still ground to cover before Vasco and Boca clash for a spot in the Sudamericana final.