Soccer

Botafogo-PB x Flamengo home, Castelão received a sudden increase and a delayed emergency report

Stadium doubled its capacity before hosting the match between Mengão and Belo for the Copa do Brasil and the government guarantees the safety of fans

01 Mai 2025 | 11:49 |

Flamengo makes its debut in the Copa do Brasil this Thursday (1st), against Botafogo-PB , at the Castelão Stadium , in São Luís (MA). The venue for the match, however, has become the target of controversy. Traditionally with a capacity for 20 thousand people, the stadium had its attendance increased to 39,622 fans — almost double — after a new report issued by the Maranhão Fire Department.

CONTROVERSIAL EXPANSION AND EMERGENCY WORK

The increase in capacity was possible thanks to emergency work that began on April 25 and was completed the day before the match. Interestingly, the new report that confirmed the stadium's release was issued on April 24 , one day after Botafogo-PB began selling tickets .

According to journalist Lúcio de Castro , the previous report, dated December 10, 2024, limited the audience to 20,000 people . After the emergency work and a provisional opinion, the stadium was authorized to receive almost 40,000 fans — precisely taking advantage of the strength of Flamengo 's fans to boost ticket sales.

The interventions included reinforcement with high-resistance mortar and installation of metal beams to support compromised pillars. The new report is valid for only three months.

STRUCTURAL PROBLEMS IN CASTELÃO

A technical report commissioned by the State Secretariat for Infrastructure , worth R$9,000 , pointed out serious problems in Castelão, such as advanced corrosion , partial collapse of beams, leaks and erosion in the foundations. Sector 1, previously closed, was released after palliative interventions.

POSITIONING OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT

The corrective and preventive actions carried out in structural systems were evaluated by specialized professionals..."

In a statement, the Fire Department stated that the expansion of capacity was carried out based on technical criteria and that structural safety was guaranteed by specialized professionals:

"The review of the public capacity of the Castelão Stadium was carried out with full technical and legal basis, following current regulations, reaching the maximum design capacity of 39,622 people without compromising the safety of the infrastructure. The corrective and preventive actions carried out on structural systems were evaluated by specialized professionals. Ticket sales must be carried out within the parameters defined in the technical report and under the responsibility of the event organizers," says the note.

CBF EXPRESSES CONCERN

The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) expressed “ surprise ” at the sudden change and sent a document to the general commander of the Fire Department, Colonel Célio Roberto Pinto de Araújo . In the text, the entity warns of risks to the safety of athletes, fans and professionals involved in the event:

"The CBF, through the Directors who subscribe below, expresses its deep concern about the existence of suddenly modified information, issued by state public bodies. Since such a scenario compromises not only the logistical and operational planning of the event, but also the safety of athletes, fans, professionals involved and the population in general", wrote the entity, addressed to the fire department.

GOVERNMENT OF MARANHÃO GUARANTEES SECURITY

Botafogo-PB's SAF, responsible for selling tickets, is cited as directly responsible for the operation. The Maranhão state government guaranteed, in an official statement, that fans will have security to watch the game and that all prerequisites for increasing capacity have been met. See the statement:

"The Government of Maranhão, through the State Secretariat for Sports and Leisure (Sedel), informs that all legal and regulatory requirements related to the security and use of the Governador João Castelo Stadium for the match between Botafogo da Paraíba and Flamengo, scheduled for May 1st of this year, were duly met. The reports regarding the maximum capacity of the stadium were updated after interventions carried out throughout the years 2024 and 2025, increasing the capacity from 20,000 to 39,622 people. This update is in accordance with the number of tickets made available for the event. We emphasize that all measures and adaptations were implemented in accordance with the parameters established by the competent bodies, with the aim of guaranteeing the safety and well-being of all users."

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Soccer

Wolverhampton define valor para vender João Gomes ao Flamengo

Clube inglês define valor astronômico de 60 milhões de euros para liberar o volante brasileiro e planeja mantê-lo no elenco mesmo em caso de rebaixamento

Wolverhampton pede 60 milhões de euros por João Gomes e frustra planos de retorno ao Flamengo nesta janela - foto: reprodução

18 Fev 2026 | 20:00 |

As esperanças de um retorno breve de João Gomes ao futebol brasileiro sofreram um duro golpe nesta quarta-feira (18). O volante, cujo nome voltou a circular nos bastidores do Flamengo nas últimas semanas, deve permanecer na Inglaterra. O Wolverhampton, atual clube do atleta, definiu condições financeiras proibitivas para qualquer negociação e manifestou o desejo de contar com o jogador independentemente do desfecho desta temporada.

Segundo apuração do portal UOL, a diretoria do Wolverhampton considera João Gomes uma peça fundamental para o esquema do técnico Rob Edwards. A avaliação interna é de que o brasileiro é indispensável, a ponto de o clube planejar sua permanência mesmo se a equipe for rebaixada para a Championship (a segunda divisão inglesa) ao fim da temporada.

Para blindar o jogador do assédio internacional, os ingleses estipularam um preço elevado. O Wolves só aceita abrir conversas se a oferta atingir a marca de 60 milhões de euros (aproximadamente R$ 428 milhões na cotação atual). O valor está muito acima da realidade financeira dos clubes brasileiros, o que praticamente inviabiliza uma repatriação pelo Flamengo neste momento.

DIRETORIA PREGA CAUTELA

Do lado do Flamengo, a postura é de cautela e realismo. A diretoria entende que, apesar da recente saída do volante Allan, o elenco comandado pelo técnico Filipe Luís está bem servido de opções para o meio-campo. José Boto, diretor de futebol do clube, explicou a estratégia de mercado em entrevista ao site GE.

"A janela no Brasil fica aberta até março. Estamos atentos ao mercado. É óbvio que nossa disponibilidade financeira agora é muito pequena para esta janela", declarou o dirigente, afastando a possibilidade de loucuras financeiras.

Boto reforçou que o clube segue monitorando situações, mas agirá apenas se encontrar um negócio de ocasião. "Aparecendo uma oportunidade que nos satisfaça do ponto de vista desportivo, alguma posição que nós identificamos e podemos vir a precisar, estamos atentos", finalizou.

Botafogo-PB x Flamengo home, Castelão received a sudden increase and a delayed emergency report