Despite field concerns, Ravens’ game vs. Cowboys expected to remain in Rio de Janeiro

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Despite concerns about the condition of the Maracanã Stadium field, the NFL has no plans to relocate the Ravens’ game next Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys in Rio de Janeiro.

An NFL spokesperson told The Banner on Sunday that the league has a plan to ensure the playing field will meet the league’s standards.

Soccer players have complained about the field’s quality in recent days, and a game was scheduled for Sunday night.

“You don’t even need to talk about the field. It’s there for everyone to see,” Flamengo goalkeeper Agustín Rossi said, according to ge, a Brazilian sports media site. “The way we play, it’s unbelievable that we’re playing on a field like this. Both penalty areas are bad as [expletive]. If you look at it, there are bumps everywhere. There’s still going to be an NFL game here during the international break. After that game, I hope the field is in better shape.”

Added Flamengo midfielder Giorgian De Arrascaeta: “We’ve been struggling a lot in these last few games, and the field keeps getting worse. It’s getting harder and harder to control the ball. We have to try to play quickly. If we want to be champions, we have to find a solution. With the team we have, we can’t be playing on a field like this.”

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Next Sunday’s matchup is technically a Dallas home game, meaning the Cowboys could host the game at AT&T Stadium. The only event scheduled for next weekend at the venue is a watch party.

The NFL has moved international games stateside before. In 2018, the league moved a game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Rams from Mexico City to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum because of poor field conditions at Estadio Azteca. The announcement was made six days before the game.

Two years later, because of the coronavirus pandemic, the NFL moved all five scheduled international games to U.S. stadiums rather than playing them in London or Mexico City.