September 28 – Italian football fans won’t be returning to grounds in large numbers anytime soon after the Italian government shot down a proposal to allow for more supporters at sporting events.
Local fans had been locked out of elite football in Italy since the coronavirus pandemic until they were allowed to attend matches again in September, but that measure won’t be expanded this time.
The regions of Emilia Romagna, where Parma, Sassuolo and Bologna are based, and Veneto, home to perennial strugglers Verona, were some of the trailblazers to host 1,000 fans at their grounds and some of the regions argued that the current limit should be increased to 25% of stadium capacity, which would allow for substantial crowds at some of Italy’s bigger venues like the San Siro in Milan.
However, the government’s technical-scientific committee didn’t green light the proposal. In a statement it said: “The CTS believes that…current conditions do not allow the participation of spectators in outdoor and indoor events in the manner indicated in the document prepared by the Conference of Regions and Autonomous Provinces.”
The committee left the door open for a reversal of its decision in the future, once it has obtained information about the impact of the coronavirus following the reopening of schools earlier this month.
Contact the writer of this story, Samindra Kunti, at moc.l1713400961labto1713400961ofdlr1713400961owedi1713400961sni@o1713400961fni1713400961