Paris (AFP)

There will be no exemption from the curfew in France to follow, in a bar or on a terrace, the entry into contention in the Euro des Bleus against the Germans on Tuesday (9 p.m.), while a limited number fan zones, the usual gathering place for the public during a major tournament, will be open, at least until June 29.

Despite the relaxation, which took place last Wednesday, of the health rules put in place to fight the Covid-19 pandemic, it will still be difficult on Tuesday for French supporters to gather in large numbers to attend the great debut of the world champions.

Thus, according to the protocol communicated by the Ministry of National Education, Youth and Sports, "only fan zones with seated spectators can be set up until June 29, while respecting the gauge and the standards. prescribed sanitary measures, "the Interior Ministry told AFP.

The decision to open a fan zone is the responsibility of the town halls, which must meet the health specifications established by the protocol, but it is also subject to obtaining a prefectural authorization.

Under these conditions, very few of them have taken the plunge.

# photo1

In Bron, a neighboring city of Lyon, a fan zone with a capacity of 900 seats will open its doors on Tuesday and it will be accessible by reservation, the town hall told AFP.

- With sanitary pass -

Monday morning, there were still 530 places to attend the France-Germany match and 799 places for the Portugal-France meeting on June 23.

In Lille, Mayor Martine Aubry (PS) is "in favor of setting up a fan zone if it can be done in accordance with the rules", according to the City's communication.

"The City and the European Metropolis of Lille are looking to see if it is possible for the last three matches, semi-finals and final, in July, because the health protocol will be more open" than in June, one explains.

The town hall excludes installing one in June, because the measures of the health protocol of this month "are hard to put in place".

Same policy in Besançon, where the town hall "plans to organize the broadcasts of the semi-finals (July 6 or 7) and the final on July 11, at the Léo-Lagrange Stadium (...) with a number of people still to delimit and the obligation of the + sanitary pass + to access it, "said the city in a press release.

In Marseille, there shouldn't be a fan zone in June, and it's not guaranteed that there will be in July either.

- Firmness -

For the broadcasts of matches on the terraces of bars, the prefecture has however authorized them under conditions.

On its Facebook page, the Union des métiers et des industries de l'hôtellerie des Bouches-du-Rhône details these conditions: "table service, 6 per table, barrier gestures respected, empty terrace at 11:00 p.m., screen directed towards the indoor (to prevent non-customers from watching the game from the street). "

In the capital, where gatherings of young revelers were dispersed by the police this weekend, there will be no fan zones in June either and the installation of television screens on the terrace has been banned by the town hall .

However, many bars and restaurants have planned to offer the France-Germany shock to their indoor customers, which suggests concentrations that are not compatible with the gauges in force and the rules of social distancing.

While the curfew will be in effect from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. until June 29, the Interior Ministry intends to be firm against those who do not respect government measures.

"There will be no tolerance because before the finals, there is no extra time and therefore the matches should end before 11:00 pm," he told AFP on Monday.

© 2021 AFP