Controversial Ticket Cancellations Mar Copa Sul-Americana Final

The final of the Copa Sudamericana between Cruzeiro and Racing set to take place on Saturday, November 23, at 5 p.m. local time at the Estadio General Pablo Rojas in Asunción, Paraguay, has been overshadowed by an unfolding ticketing controversy. Several fans of Cruzeiro have reported unexpected cancellations of their tickets, adding confusion and frustration to the eagerly anticipated match.

According to reports, numerous fans from Brazil have arrived in Paraguay only to find that their tickets had been canceled without sufficient explanation. This was communicated by the governing football body, CONMEBOL, citing ‘security issues,’ but lacking detailed clarity.

The situation was further complicated when an incorrect address was given by CONMEBOL for fans to lodge complaints and requests for ticket refunds. This led many fans to a wrong location, which is situated approximately 30 minutes from the stadium where the exchange was purportedly possible.

Luiz Eduardo, a Cruzeiro supporter, expressed his disappointment at the lack of communication from CONMEBOL. «The desire is to take legal action,» Eduardo said, highlighting the language barriers and the absence of adequate guidance for fans traveling to Paraguay. «We needed more orientation,» he added.

Amidst the confusion, some cruzeirenses have managed to resolve their ticket issues at the CONMEBOL headquarters in Luque, yet they remain in the minority. Most are facing negative responses through email communication.

In response to the backlash, CONMEBOL has stated via a social media post that cancellations were partly a response to ‘undue commercialization’ by original ticket holders. However, they are investigating whether genuine purchases were mistakenly annulled and, if confirmed, affected tickets might be reissued to fans.

The delay and the blocked sales have raised questions about oversight and protocols from the football authority regarding ticket distribution and security.

Cruzeiro officials, while not directly responsible for the ticketing errors, are actively monitoring the situation and are present in Asunción to address the evolving dispute.