Clube de Regatas do Flamengo and Fluminense Football Club hereby clarify that, today, November 09.11.2023, 01, they appeared at the auditorium of the Rio de Janeiro State Planning and Management Secretariat (location indicated by Notice No. 2023/1 for the delivery and opening of proposals), for associated participation in the Public Call promoted by the Civil House, whose purpose was to find sports organizations interested in temporarily assuming the Onerous Permit for Use of the Maracanã Complex, for a period of 01.01.2024 year (January 31.12.2024, XNUMX to December XNUMX, XNUMX), until the bidding for the concession of the Maracanã Complex is completed.

The association composed of Flamengo and Fluminense, after having completed all the formalities required for qualification in the aforementioned administrative procedure, was declared the winner of the Public Call.

Over the last few days, Flamengo and Fluminense have joined forces to meet all the requirements set out in the Notice, with the aim of participating in the procedure in a regular and competitive manner, within the legal limits and always respecting other potential interested parties and the Government of the State of Rio de Janeiro.

It is important to highlight that, over the last few months, Vasco da Gama (SAF) has been trying to create several fantastical narratives in official documents and lawsuits, including demanding that the Judiciary oblige the State of Rio de Janeiro to hold a public call before renewing the current Terms of Use Permission, which was duly complied with by the State, through Notice No. 01/2023.

However, contradicting its conduct, Vasco da Gama issued an official statement this morning, just minutes before the scheduled Public Call, stating that it would not participate in the procedure it so desperately required. This statement, once again using fanciful arguments that were disrespectful to the Executive Branch and its competitors, was contradictory. Unfortunately, Vasco da Gama chose to disseminate false and sensational information to its fans, seeking to create a social commotion, claiming it had been prevented from participating in a competition in which it had not even attempted to qualify.

Vasco da Gama's conduct demonstrates that its rhetoric over the past few months was solely aimed at disrupting the permit granted to Flamengo and Fluminense, thereby coercing the State of Rio de Janeiro into adopting a competition model geared toward its own interests rather than the public interest. Vasco da Gama's stance demonstrates that it does not seek a "Maracanã for everyone," but rather, a "Maracanã for no one."  

Vasco da Gama is also protesting against the fact that the State of Rio de Janeiro values, in its proposals, the ability of interested parties to guarantee a greater number of games at the Stadium, that is, to seek to ensure that the future concession holder gives Maracanã the purpose that earned it the nickname "Temple of Football", the greatest icon of Rio de Janeiro's image as the venue for major and historic sporting events, and the purpose for which Maracanã was listed.

The State of Rio de Janeiro, cautiously and concerned about one of its greatest tourist assets, cannot allow Maracanã to become a space primarily dedicated to concerts, imposing, as is seen in several national arenas, the transfer of matches to other stadiums, so that the manager can profit from other events.

Likewise, the Notice issued by the State of Rio de Janeiro correctly requires the demonstration of technical competence and experience in order to hand over to third parties not only the Maracanã Stadium but also the Maracanãzinho Gymnasium, which has hosted historic and Olympic sporting events.

It would be irresponsible for the State to treat the Maracanã Complex as if it were just another sports facility and did not require expertise for its management. 

In this regard, Vasco da Gama's repeated legal actions to hold games at Maracanã on consecutive dates demonstrate that the sports organization either lacks experience in pitch maintenance or doesn't care about the quality of the spectacle. The 2023 Copa Libertadores da América final exemplified the importance of pitch preservation, demonstrating that any technical refusals to play on a damaged pitch are not arbitrary, but a managerial necessity.

On the other hand, it is strange that Vasco da Gama would boast so much interest in managing the Maracanã Complex, composed of the Maracanã Stadium and the Maracanãzinho, while: (i) it claims that it does not even have the technical capacity and experience in managing gymnasiums; (ii) it demonstrates repeated difficulties in managing its own stadium; and, furthermore, (iii) it is on the verge of renovating the São Januário Stadium, increasing its capacity, through resources arising from municipal law.

Therefore, Flamengo and Fluminense regret that Vasco da Gama did not even attend the public competition held by the State of Rio de Janeiro, and that it is using empty and untrue arguments to discredit the serious and committed work of the Clubs that complied with all legal and public notice formalities required by the State Executive Branch, which resulted in the offering of the winning proposal in a regularly held Public Call. 

Certain that public opinion will not be swayed by those who declared themselves defeated, without even competing, Flamengo and Fluminense recognize the correct performance of the Government of the State of Rio de Janeiro and inform that they will continue the successful management of the Maracanã Complex, fulfilling the obligations assumed and offering, increasingly, a better, safer and more comfortable service to fans in Rio de Janeiro and visitors from all over the world.