Saint-Denis (AFP)

Coronavirus requires, the final of the Coupe de France Friday between Paris SG and Saint-Etienne (9:10 p.m.) will take place in a Stade de France which will ring hollow, with only 5,000 people authorized in the enclosure of 81,000 places and in compliance with the instructions sanitary facilities.

- Limited gauge, ultras absent -

Since July 11, sporting events in France can take place with the public, within the limit of a maximum capacity of 5,000 people, players and organization included. Several friendly football matches thus welcomed the public, in sparse stands.

The final of the Coupe de France, on the other hand, is the first official competitive match since mid-March to welcome the public among the five major football countries (Spain, England, Germany, Italy, France).

By subtracting from this limit figure of 5,000 people the players, their management, the organization, the officials, the journalists or the stewards, there are only 3,500 tickets left for the spectators, of which 1,200 are reserved for each club.

A figure considered too small by the ultras of PSG and ASSE who voluntarily refused to attend the match, not wishing to choose among their thousands of members the privileged few who could benefit from a ticket.

The turns of the stadium will therefore be closed, with tarpaulins in the colors of PSG and ASSE, and the public will be confined to the first ring, at the bottom of each central stand, near the lawn. Saint-Etienne, moreover, decided not to sell a general public ticket for the meeting in order to respect the choice of its ultras.

Given the size of the Stade de France, which is also to host the Coupe de la Ligue final on Friday July 31 between Paris and Lyon, the president of the French Football Federation (FFF) Noël Le Graët had campaigned to go beyond that figure of 5,000. But without success for the moment.

"We would have liked to have more people", he admitted in an interview with the daily Le Parisien. "We're only going to play in front of 5,000 people. I regret it a bit, but it's already a start."

- Masks, gel and circulation arrow -

At the Ministry of Sports, it is specified that the question of this limit of 5,000 people must be examined soon by the executive.

"We could propose to no longer be on the notion of gauge, but more simply on physical distancing. In particular by ensuring that spectators cross paths as little as possible," recently explained the Minister for Sports, Roxana Maracineanu.

In the meantime, from Friday, the progress of the public in the Stade de France will be supervised in order to manage the flow, with barriers and arrow markings on the ground.

Wearing a mask will be compulsory for "all people, all the time," says a source close to the FFF, and hydroalcoholic gel terminals will be placed in the enclosure.

Social distancing will also be maintained in the stands with places left vacant between different family or friendly groups.

- Ceremonial adapted for the trophy -

Contrary to custom, the victorious team will not climb into the presidential stand to be awarded the Coupe de France. A podium will be erected on the lawn and the trophy placed on a stele.

While tradition wants the President of the Republic to hand it over to the victors, the victorious captain will seize it himself, in the presence of Emmanuel Macron and Noël Le Graët, and no one other than him and his team. will only be entitled to touch the trophy.

Likewise, the two teams and the referees will receive a medal, which they will seize by themselves on a plate.

What will not change, however, are the images of celebration: brandished trophy, triumphant team and rain of confetti ...

© 2020 AFP