Investigations into Ticket Overselling at Maracanã

The Rio de Janeiro Public Prosecutor's Office has launched an investigation to look into alleged overcrowding and ticket sales exceeding Maracanã's capacity in Flamengo and Fluminense matches. The action comes after the Specialized Sports and Fan Defense Task Force observed on-site that the volume of fans exceeded the permitted limit.

Irregularities found in ticket spreadsheets

Spreadsheets obtained by prosecutors showed that Flamengo overcrowded the north sector and the reserved seats in at least six of the 12 matches analyzed, while Fluminense made more tickets available than permitted in five matches. The documents include reports from the Fire Department and the Military Police, which set the stadium's current capacity at just over 73,000 paying spectators.

Response from the clubs and the consortium

Fluminense denied the accusation in an official statement, asserting that it does not sell tickets above the limit in any sector. Flamengo did not comment officially. The company that manages Maracanã, Fla-Flu Serviços S.A., responded through its CEO, Fred Nantes, describing the investigation as “much more of a media thing than anything else” and promising cooperation with the Public Prosecutor's Office.

Procedures demanded by the Public Prosecutor's Office

The MPRJ's official request asks for a breakdown of all ticket categories—sales, complimentary tickets, and free entries—itemized by sector, as well as the actual number of fans in attendance. The goal is to understand the discrepancies between tickets issued and the actual capacity of each area of the stadium.

Possible sanctions under the General Sports Law

According to Article 147 of the General Sports Law, teams that sell tickets exceeding capacity may be banned from playing in stadiums in their city for up to six months. The Public Prosecutor's Office is still evaluating the proposal of a Conduct Adjustment Agreement (TAC) to avoid taking the case to court and disrupting the season.

Next steps in the investigation

The clubs, the Rio de Janeiro State Football Federation, and Fla-Flu Serviços have until next week to respond to the official request. The Public Prosecutor's Office expects to receive the requested information to decide on the continuation of the inquiry, which was opened on September 26. The investigation does not yet have a completion date, but the involved parties have been summoned to provide copies of the procedures within the established deadline.

With information from O GLOBO, UOL.