Boca Juniors fans will be able to attend their team’s Copa Libertadores debut against Universidad Católica in Chile, following a recent change of decision by Chilean authorities, according to an April 2 announcement.
The initial restriction on visiting supporters was linked to previous incidents involving Universidad de Chile and Independiente fans in Buenos Aires during last year’s Copa Sudamericana. This led officials to classify the upcoming match as high risk. However, Germán Codina, Presidential Delegate for the Metropolitan Region of Chile, said that Boca’s supporters will now be permitted entry under certain conditions.
“We are going to allow the entry of the 2,000 visiting fans, provided that Cruzados—the company managing Universidad Católica—complies with the conditions established at the meeting. They must increase the number of security guards inside the stadium and follow various parameters set by Carabineros in order to guarantee segregation of visiting fans,” Codina said.
He also emphasized a requirement for international visitors: “It is very important to consider that those coming from abroad who wish to buy tickets must register with the National Registry of Fans.” Codina further explained that officials have coordinated with Tribuna Segura—Argentina’s equivalent security team—to help identify individuals banned from stadiums in Argentina. “In addition,” he said, “we contacted Tribuna Segura so we can identify people who are prohibited from entering stadiums in Argentina.”
The match between Boca Juniors and Universidad Católica is scheduled for next Tuesday at 9:30 p.m., Argentina time.
This decision allows Boca Juniors’ traveling supporters a chance to see their team compete on foreign soil after concerns over safety nearly prevented their attendance.
