The Mexican Court granted this Tuesday (9) a decision in favor of FIFA and the Azteca stadium by suspending the precautionary measures that allowed owners of boxes and captive seats to bring vehicles, food and drinks into the venue during the World Cup.
The Mexican Association of Box and Captive Seat Owners had obtained two precautionary measures for its members to be entitled to benefits, which are prohibited for other fans.
However, the 1st District Court of Mexico City suspended the previous decisions of the 6th and 7th District Courts.
In the decision, judge Oswaldo Alejandro López Arellanos stated that keeping such measures in force could affect the public interest by interfering in the organization, preparation and development of the World Cup.
Furthermore, it could affect the uniform application of the rules established for the 16 stadiums that will be used.
The judge also highlighted that FIFA is responsible for organizing the competition and that both the stadium and the parties involved are obliged to comply with the regulations, guidelines and provisions issued by the international organization.
The association’s lawyer, Roberto Ruano, told the country’s press that he would seek an injunction to revoke the judge’s decision, so that owners of boxes and captive seats can access the stadium during the opening match of the World Cup, this Thursday (11), at 4pm (Brasília time), when the Mexican team faces South Africa.
The magistrate, however, determined that the final decision will be made at a hearing only next Monday (15), four days after the match.
The association’s fight has been going on for a long time. In addition to access to parking and entry to food and drinks, owners of boxes and captive seats try to guarantee, firstly, the right to use their seats during the World Cup.
According to FIFA rules, all seats in the stadiums that will host World Cup games belong to it, which is contested by the group.
The main criticism is that, according to the association’s lawyer, in the 1970 and 1986 World Cups, also in Mexico, the owners of boxes and captive seats had accreditation and entrances well in advance, which did not happen this time.
Therefore, the group has already obtained precautionary measures that guarantee owners’ access to their boxes during the World Cup; the possibility of renting, selling or transferring places according to their contracts; entry with property titles if they do not have physical tickets; and the right to parking for those who have established it in their contracts.
This Tuesday, some of the owners went to the Azteca to comply with the precautionary measures and enter their designated places, but were prevented by an employee from Ollamani SAB, from Grupo Televisa, which manages the stadium. He presented the judge’s decision to prevent entry.
