VASCO RELEGATED TO SECOND DIVISION

By: Bruno Romani | December 7th, 2008

Vasco is another victim. Not a victim of bad football. A bad moment is expected within every single club or national team. But for a club who is 4 times Brazilian Champion, a club that won Copa Libertadores, a club who has a history that includes Romario, Bebeto, Juninho Pernambucano and many others relegation is not normal. Relegation ins this case is a consequence. And Vasco has been a victim of a group of people who took over the club as a land who has no owner. A group that stole all the glory and has entered dark paths. A group that caused political convulsion. A group that fractured the club. A group who was smart enough to leave just before the ship sunk.

Vasco had to beat Vitoria. It did not. It lost 2-0 at home in the last match of Edmundo, maybe the last whisper of a great player to play for Vasco. But at the age of 37, Edmundo could not save the club his professes love. Not only that. The campaign has been so poor that even if Vasco had beaten Vitoria, the club’s final destiny would’ve the second division. Atletico-PR and Nautico did not lose. Even Figueirense, the other relegated club, won its match. Now, Vasco leaves the small group of clubs who never played second division (the others are: Flamengo, Cruzeiro, Sao Paulo, Santos and Inter). It will be a tough 2009 for Vasco. And the return will not be that easy. On other hand, second-division has proven to strength between club and fans.

Fluminense, Palmeiras, Corinthians, Botafogo, Atletico and Vasco. How many more traditional clubs will have to collapse through the hands of corrupt officials before Brazilian football adopts a professional model of administration?

Be Strong Vasco!

ps: Vitoria also is part of history. After sending Palmeiras to second division in 2002, Vitoria now sends Vasco.