Rome (AFP)
The president of the Italian football federation Gabriele Gravina acknowledged that he hoped to be able to welcome supporters to the stadium before the end of the championship, while deeming the debate still "premature".
"Tifosi at the stadium? Today is premature. But I hope it can happen at the end of the championship, I hope with all my heart," said Gravina, interviewed by Radio 24.
The Italian championship, interrupted since March 9 by the Covid-19 epidemic, received the green light from the government on Thursday for a restart in mid-June.
The matches will be framed by a very strict health protocol and are scheduled behind closed doors. Serie A is scheduled to end in early August.
But in recent days, several voices have been heard in the Italian football world to evoke the possibility of opening certain stadiums to supporters, in a limited way and if the sanitary conditions allow it.
"I follow the evolution of the situation for cinemas, theaters, cultural events. It seems unthinkable that in a stadium of 60,000 or 80,000 seats, there is no space for a minimal percentage of spectators who can attend to the match, with all necessary precautions, "said Gravina.
"It is premature to talk about it today. But with the resumption of the championship, there could be a new little signal of hope for our country. It would also be a way to reward enthusiasts after a particularly difficult period", he added.
From June 15, cinemas and theaters will be able to reopen in Italy, with limited gauges and framed by precise rules of distancing.
© 2020 AFP