Palmeiras May Have to Play Home Games Elsewhere During Libertadores

02/12/2016 - 16h14

Palmeiras may have to play their home games in the Copa Libertadores outside the Allianz Parque, its home ground. The team's first home game is against Argentina's Rosário Central on March 2.

The South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) informed participating clubs that Libertadores stadiums would not be permitted to display the logos of their sponsors, with the exclusive rights going to companies chosen by CONMEBOL.

	Ernesto Rodrigues - 4.mar.2015/Folhapress
	Signs displaying the Allianz logo would have to be hidden from view for the TV broadcast, Conmebol said.

This ruling appeared in the sponsorship rights manual delivered by CONMEBOL to the clubs last week.

On February 2, a CONMEBOL committee visited the Allianz Parque. During an inspection of the stadium, the executives warned Palmeiras that signs displaying the Allianz logo would have to be hidden from view for the TV broadcast.

The same problem occurred in the first game of the Brazilian Série A last year, when the TV network Rede Globo, which controls the sponsorship rights, demanded that the Allianz logo be hidden from view during the match.

But in an email exchange to which Folha has had access, Alexandre Costa, general manager of the stadium, told Palmeiras that he would neither remove nor cover the Allianz logo.

Costa argued that the CONMEBOL request is incompatible with an agreement between Palmeiras and Real Arenas, a WTorre company, which manages the stadium.

When questioned by Folha, WTorre claims that it was not notified. Palmeiras say they warned the company, and will try to negotiate with CONMEBOL, but there is a possibility that they will have to play their home games elsewhere during the Libertadores.

Translated by TOM GATEHOUSE

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