The European Union opens the door for the fans to return to the stadiums ... and adopts the five substitutions
The European Football Association (UEFA) today raised its decision to limit the capacity of the stadiums hosting the European Cup 2020 at 30 percent, which was taken last October, leaving the local authorities to determine the potential capacity.
A statement issued by the continental union after its executive committee meeting on Wednesday stated that "given that each of the 55 European Union unions is facing a different situation within the framework of its management of the Covid-19 pandemic, the issue of setting a ceiling for public capacity is no longer valid."
On the other hand, WEFA kept the ban on foreign fans in stadiums "until the club competition finals" meaning the European Champions League and European League (Europa League), "which will be held in May."
The new decision will take effect from Thursday, and will also apply to the futsal competition, which has so far been held behind closed doors.
Thus, the European Union’s decision allows the 12 European Cup-hosting cities in 12 countries to fill their stadiums if they so desire.
The Confederation has granted host cities until April 7 to "present their own scenario," and it intends to take a decision "at the latest" during its executive committee meeting on April 19, on the eve of the next annual general assembly.
In mid-March, the federation confirmed its desire for mass attendance in all host cities for the tournament scheduled between June 11 and July 11, suggesting that the matches would be transferred to another country in the event that a country decided to hold its matches behind closed doors.
This demand, which comes in the midst of a health crisis and an outbreak of new infectious strains from the pandemic, has not met with positive results in Germany, which hosts four matches in Munich and has banned fans from stadiums since March 2020.
On the other hand, Romania announced on March 18 that it expects a crowd attendance of at least 25 percent of the capacity of the "Arena Nazionala" stadium in Bucharest.
In turn, Denmark plans to host at least 11,000 spectators per match for the upcoming summer clashes in Copenhagen, while the government reserves the right to reduce the numbers in case the health situation deteriorates.
On the other hand, Wifa also announced that it would allow the five substitutions in the European Cup.
The Confederation said in its statement that it had taken the decision to allow the five substitutions in the European Cup 2020, "as the rule is approved in the World Cup qualifiers extending from March 2021 until March 2022."
He added, "The reasons related to the rule of five substitutions are still valid in view of the domestic and international competition schedules affected by the Covid-19 pandemic."
Wifa added that the rule will also be adopted in the finals (semi-finals and final) of the European Nations League next October and in the relegation supplement matches in March 2022.
The permitted number of substitutions was raised from three to five after the resumption of competitions last season following a forced suspension due to the pandemic, and it is adopted in the Champions League, the Europa League, and most leagues in Europe except for the English Premier League within the five major leagues.
The decision came due to the busy schedules of competitions after their resumption, which would affect the safety of the players.
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