Estudiantes Issues Travel Guidelines for Fans Visiting Rio

With thousands of supporters preparing to travel to Brazil for the CONMEBOL Libertadores semifinal against Flamengo, Estudiantes de La Plata has issued safety guidelines urging fans to respect local laws and avoid discriminatory behavior. The second leg is scheduled for Thursday, October 22, at 9:30 p.m. at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, according to enAgenda.

More than 3,000 of the 4,000 tickets allocated to visiting supporters had been sold by October 20, according to the report. The club issued its recommendations in coordination with guidance from Argentina's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship and the Argentine Consulate General in Rio de Janeiro.

Estudiantes emphasized that racist, xenophobic, or discriminatory gestures, chants, and insults can constitute serious criminal offenses under Brazilian law. The warning applies inside the stadium and throughout the city, both before and after the match.

Under Brazilian Law No. 14.532, which took effect in 2023, racial insult was incorporated into the country's legal framework for prosecuting racism. The offenses can carry prison sentences ranging from two to five years, and racism offenses in Brazil are not eligible for bail, according to the club's guidance as reported by enAgenda.

The club also cited cases involving Argentine citizens who were detained during recent editions of the Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana over discriminatory conduct. Argentina's foreign ministry had previously warned travelers about the legal consequences of such incidents.

Estudiantes advised supporters to purchase tickets exclusively through official channels to avoid problems with tickets obtained elsewhere. It also urged travelers to avoid illegal drugs, obtain comprehensive travel insurance with legal assistance if possible, behave responsibly inside and outside the stadium, and refrain from responding to provocations.

For emergencies in Rio de Janeiro, Argentine citizens can contact the Argentine Consulate General's emergency mobile number at +55 21 98476-0444. The consulate's general telephone number is +55 21 3850-8150, and its office is located at Edifício Argentina, Praia de Botafogo 228, Mezzanine 201, in the Botafogo neighborhood.

The consulate's public service hours are Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The emergency mobile number is reserved for urgent situations, including arrests, serious police incidents, accidents, and lost travel documents.