Before the match against Paraguay in the third round of Group F of the Libertadores, Palmeiras faced an unexpected challenge.
As reported by UOL, the home team, Cerro Porteño, made a controversial decision to modify the dimensions of the playing field at La Nueva Olla stadium, bringing it down to FIFA’s minimum requirements.
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The field was narrowed to 64 meters wide, hitting the FIFA minimum rule that requires pitches for official matches to be between 64 and 75 meters in width, while the length should be from 100 to 110 meters.
For context, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) recommends standard dimensions of 105 meters in length and 68 meters in width for the Série A and Série B leagues.
This adjustment was clearly a tactical move by Cerro Porteño to limit space and disrupt the Brazilian team’s attacking plays along the sides during Wednesday’s match (29).
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Prior to this round, Palmeiras was positioned second in their group, holding four points—just one point ahead of Cerro Porteño.
In response to inquiries about the field size, Conmebol stated that the new dimensions at La Nueva Olla comply fully with the regulations, leaving no grounds for complaints from the Brazilian club.
Abel’s Frustration
The strategy proved effective for the home team.
Palmeiras, fielding a different lineup, found it challenging to maneuver due to the reduced space, resulting in a draw.
During the post-match press conference, coach Abel Ferreira expressed his disappointment regarding the Paraguayan tactic of narrowing the field by four meters.
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While he spoke cautiously to avoid any potential repercussions from Conmebol, the Portuguese coach described the situation as “sad.”
“I’ve never encountered something like this before. It’s the first time in my long career in football that I see such a thing. But you should direct that question to Conmebol. Do you realize what century we’re in? There’s not much more I can say… It’s very unfortunate, but I’m not one who organizes it, and I must tread carefully with my words. As you know, I was almost penalized by Conmebol for previous comments, so I need to be cautious,” Abel lamented.
Despite his criticisms regarding the altered pitch, the Palmeiras manager took accountability for the outcome of the match.
“In my opinion, what was missing today was a goal. We had sufficient opportunities, even considering the limitations of a narrow field with heavy marking. […] Ultimately, we couldn’t secure a win, and the responsibility lies with me. My role is to prepare my players,” he remarked.
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The draw resulted in Palmeiras losing their top spot in Group F of the Libertadores. The team is set to compete again next Saturday, facing Santos at 6:30 p.m. (Brasília time) in the Brazilian Championship.
This article has been translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.