For the Copa Libertadores match, Conmebol restricts access to the pitch to media photographers

For the match between Barcelona SC and América Mineiro, corresponding to the second leg of phase 3 of the Copa Libertadores play-off, the accredited media photographers did not have access to the playing field of the Monumental Banco Pichincha stadium to carry out their activities, this by disposition from CONMEBOL. Media photojournalists were placed in the press box, while a pool of predefined photographers between international agencies was not restricted from entering the field.

Accreditations for access to the stadium granted by the local club are for the press box. By COVID-19 mode, the Conmebol regulations provide that only a limited quota of 8 photographers goes to the field. pool of international agencies and Digital Conmebol.

This is a provision of Conmebol that appears in the regulations of the 2022 edition of the contest, called Conmebol Competitions Operations Protocol COVID-19 Mode VERSION 2.0, which is available in PDF version on the organization’s website.

This Conmebol action orders the media photographers who generally carried out their work on the field of play (until before the COVID-19 pandemic), now carry out their work in the press gallery, while a select group belonging to a pool international agencies can go to the field of play.

The regulation states that for accredited media photographers “08 photo positions will be enabled in the press gallery and/or gallery (stands), only Zone 2″.

“The positions will be defined by Conmebol and, depending on the infrastructure of each stadium, the photographers will be able to work standing or sitting in the assigned positions,” he adds.

Regarding the photographers on the field of play for international agencies, he mentions that “professionals will be established between a pool of predefined photographers between the agencies”.

These will be located behind the advertising static in the background line (one photographer per side).

Likewise, for the team photographers, two positions will be enabled on the field of play. These should also be located behind the advertising static in the background line.

Additionally, official Conmebol photographers will carry out their activities in Zone 1 of the stadium. For this group, up to four positions will be enabled and they will be located behind the advertising static on the bottom line (two photographers per side).

Mechanism introduced in Ecuador?

At the national level, the Professional Soccer League of Ecuador (LigaPro) has denied accreditation to media photographers to carry out graphic coverage of the national championship matches in designated areas within the field of play, which in the case of EL UNIVERSO have done so since 1957.

The organizing entity of the LigaPro Serie A tournament, through its Communication Department, rejected the request for credentials made by EL UNIVERSO so that the photographers can enter the stadiums and fulfill, in the 2022 season, the work they have done since the first contest edition.

The Professional League did give badges to the photographers of api (Independent Press Agency). (D)