Tegnell does not believe in a larger audience until late autumn: "We hope so"

Tegnell believes that the limit of a maximum of 500 people in the audience will remain for several months, perhaps as far ahead as this winter.

How did you get to just 500 seated people in the audience?

- It was a limit that we had before and that we feel safe with. We do not believe that this limit means any extreme load on local traffic when traveling to and from the arenas, says Tegnell.

What is the time perspective for increasing the number of spectators?

- We know that it takes some time before any negative effects appear. It took a couple of months in Europe before you saw the change after closing the lockdown so we want a number of months on us to see that nothing happens.

This means another couple of months with a very limited audience in Swedish sports arenas.

- We hope for the late autumn-winter depending on what the development looks like, says Tegnell about increasing the number of spectators.

The Swedish Football Association wants a percentage instead of 500 spectators (which means more spectators in larger arenas).

- It falls on the question that it is not only the arena that is problematic but also the journey there and from and how to act as an audience both before and after. That is why you must have an absolute number at the bottom. Then the arena can to some extent also set a limit. The journey to and from is the most important limitation because we are already worried about local traffic, Tegnell states.

In Finland, thousands of spectators are already watching football. Why would it not go here?

- Finland has had a significantly lower spread of infection. I can understand that they can feel a little safer and have a little higher levels. We would like to test with 500 first and feel confident that it does not have any negative effects in Sweden.

If there is a new wave of infection, can this decision be changed?

- There is always a risk and there can be outbreaks in different places. If something like this happens, it is of course not relevant with even these levels.

Right now there is a limit of 50 people per match and the adjustment up to 500 with one meter between the spectators is proposed to apply from 1 October, which the government decides on.