Buenos Aires, November 17 (NA) – Racing has confirmed its qualification for the Clausura tournament playoffs, but it will play this stage without spectators at the Cilindro de Avellaneda. The club's board is managing an appeal to APREVIDE to reduce the three-match ban imposed for the reception given to the team during the Copa Libertadores semifinal against Flamengo, as reported by the Argentine News Agency. The sanction stipulates that the Presidente Perón stadium must remain completely closed to the public for three official matches due to "lack of organization for control and surveillance" during that reception to the team. Racing has already served the first of these matches on November 8, in the 1-0 victory over Defensa y Justicia, and the second would coincide with the round of 16 of the playoffs, which could deprive Gustavo Costas's team of a crucial setting in its fight to advance and win the title. Furthermore, as reported by Doble Amarilla, despite the appeal filed after the narrow victory over Newell's in Rosario, APREVIDE, for now, maintains the prohibition. In this way, unless a last-minute appeal is successful, Racing will have to face its debut in the elimination phase without its fans.
