Brazilian club tries to keep Maracana open

By foxsports
Published

Brazilian league leader Fluminense is trying to keep Maracana stadium open while renovations for the 2014 World Cup are carried out.

Construction at Maracana began two weeks ago, and the last league match at the famous venue is scheduled for Sunday.

But Fluminense lawyers want to keep the stadium open longer and say it can host matches while the major renovation work is still pending.

Some seated sections are being removed and teams have been playing with the venue at a reduced capacity.

Fluminense lawyer Mario Bittencourt told the GloboEsporte website the club will ask the country's sports tribunal to rule against the Brazilian federation's decision to close the stadium, which is not scheduled to reopen until 2013 ahead of the Confederations Cup.