Fans return to the stands in Italy from the cup gate
The Italian Health Ministry Undersecretary Andrea Costa said today that the final of the Coppa Italia competition between Juventus and Atalanta, scheduled for next month's Mapei stadium, may be held in front of stands that are open to the fans by 20 percent.
It is expected that the stadium will receive about 4,700 spectators, of its capacity, in the final match, which will be held on May 19 in Reggio Emilia, home of the Sassuolo team.
The Italian agency "AGI" reported on Costa that "after discussions with (Health) Minister Roberto Speranza, I confirm the government's willingness to legislate the stadium in front of fans by 20 percent of its capacity."
"The Technical Scientific Committee (CTS) is studying the protocol to allow spectators to safely access and follow the match, with full compliance with anti-COVID-19 legislation," he added.
The law banning fans from attending football matches in the "Serie A" is still in effect this season, but the Italian government has committed itself to the European Union for the game, with at least 25 percent of the capacity of the Olympic Stadium in Rome, as of next June 11, when It receives four matches within the framework of the European Cup 2020, postponed to next summer due to the Corona virus.
In the same context, Costa indicated that he recommended allowing the attendance of a specific number of fans to attend the final of the Rome International Masters' 1,000-point tennis tournament scheduled for May 16th.
"They will be important tests before the European Cup matches in Rome," he said.
He continued, "It is an essential signal for the entire world of sport, leading the way once again to set dates for a gradual return to normal life."
On the other hand, the President of the Italian Football League, Paolo Dal Pino, welcomed the move, saying, "We thank the government for accepting our request to return the fans to the next Coppa Italia final, which is a sign of the return of the normal life we all need."
"We remain confident of our ability to open the stadiums in the few days of the season in front of a thousand spectators in complete safety," he concluded.
Follow our latest local and sports news, and the latest political and economic developments via Google news