The Maracanã Stadium is "due to reopen next month after falling into disrepair following the 2016 Olympic Games." The Rio venue was "caught in a political dispute over maintenance" following the Games, but that has now been resolved. It means the Maracanã will host a match between Brasiliero side Flamengo and Argentine club San Lorenzo in the Copa Libertadores on March 8 (ESPN.com, 2/23).
Councilors "hope" a deal over the running of Premier League side Swansea's Liberty Stadium "could be struck before May's council elections." Swansea City's new American owners have held "unofficial talks" with the council since they bought the club last summer. The authority's cabinet approved the start of formal talks on a new Liberty Stadium lease on Thursday (BBC, 2/23).
Naples Mayor Luigi de Magistris said that Napoli's Champions League match against Real Madrid "wouldn’t happen without us" and dismissed Napoli Chair Aurelio De Laurentiis' idea for a 20,000-seater stadium. Stadio San Paolo is in a "state of disrepair," with a "rift between the club and the city council, which owns the stadium." De Magistris said, "We won't build a new stadium, but we'll do a beautiful renovation of the stadium that exists. ... We'll respect that commitment, even without the support of the club, we've embarked on this road and if we have to, we'll finish it alone" (FOOTBALL ITALIA, 2/23).