Euro football could not be played behind closed doors on the side of Italy.

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Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP

The Italian government has given the green light to the presence of spectators at the next Euro football matches scheduled at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, including the opening meeting on June 11, the Federation announced on Tuesday.

The actual presence of the public during the four meetings scheduled in Rome during the competition (June 11-July 11), however, still depends on the establishment of a protocol by the technical and scientific committee (CTS) which advises the government.

This government decision "is an excellent result which is good for the country, not only for football", greeted the president of the Italian Federation Gabriele Gravina in a press release.

"In such a complex moment, the desire to see the Italian presence at this great event confirmed," added the manager, while UEFA had given the host cities until Wednesday to present their plans to host public.

Concretely, according to Mr. Gravina, the Italian Minister of Health Roberto Speranza "instructed the CTS to identify the best solutions to allow the presence of the public in June".

In this letter, the minister asks the experts to define solutions that could allow “a form of public participation compatible with the epidemiological context”.

Jakadi said "no empty stands"

The president of the Federation pleads for an opening to 30% of the Stadio Olimpico, that is to say some 20,000 spectators.

"It would be a great disappointment not to play the Euro in Rome", recently estimated the Italian coach Roberto Mancini, while the Nazionale must play its three matches of the first round at the Olimpico (Turkey opening, then Switzerland and Wales).

A quarter-final is also scheduled in Rome.

Based on feedback from host cities, UEFA is expected to give its final opinion in the coming days on the organization of the tournament in an unprecedented format: matches are scheduled in Amsterdam, Baku, Bilbao, Bucharest, Budapest, Copenhagen, Dublin, Glasgow, Munich, Rome and St. Petersburg, with the semi-finals and final in London.

In March, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin made it clear that he did not want "empty stands".

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