The prefecture of the Pyrénées-Orientales has authorized the arrival of 8,000 spectators for the rugby match between Perpignan and Colombiers scheduled for Friday. This is the first exemption granted to the world of sport since the government banned gatherings of more than 5,000 people last week. 

The Perpignan club will be able to accommodate 8,000 spectators for its match on Friday, after having obtained to exceed the gauge of 5,000 people on exemption from the prefecture of the Pyrénées-Orientales, the formation of Pro D2 said on Monday.

The prefecture "officially announced to us that we will be able to welcome 8,000 spectators at Aimé Giral" to receive Colomiers on August 21, assured the USAP on Twitter. This is the first exemption granted to the world of sport to override the ban, until the end of October, to accommodate more than 5,000 people for large gatherings, pronounced last week by the government.

The @ Prefet66 officially announced that we will be able to welcome 8000 spectators at Aimé Giral for @ColomiersRugby - 08/21 !! We would like to thank all the supporters present on Friday for their exemplary behavior, which enabled us to obtain this authorization. pic.twitter.com/Bz1nMSmFwh

- USAP (@usap_officiel) August 17, 2020

Rejected requests

This authorization is only valid for the match against Colomiers, scheduled for Friday. In football, OM (against Saint-Étienne on August 21) or Bordeaux (against Nantes on the 22) have seen their requests refused. This is the first match for the Catalans since the end of Pro D2 five months ago, before the resumption on September 3 in Biarritz.