Rome ¨C Italy¡¯s government will allow fans to attend matches at this year¡¯s European Championship in Rome¡¯s Olympic Stadium with at least 25% capacity, the country¡¯s soccer federation (FIGC) said in a statement on Tuesday.
Euro 2020 was postponed by a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and European soccer¡¯s governing body UEFA had asked the 12 host nations to submit their plans for allowing fans inside stadiums by early April. The finals run from June 11-July 11.
Last week the Italian government¡¯s Technical Scientific Committee (CTS) said it was unable to give its opinion before the deadline and UEFA had given until April 19 for a decision.
¡°Italy and Rome are on board. The government approval of the public¡¯s presence at Rome¡¯s Euro 2020 matches is wonderful news that we will immediately pass on to UEFA,¡± FIGC President Gabriele Gravina said in a statement.
¡°The message that the government sends to the country is one of great confidence and extraordinary vision.
¡°Italy is showing courage that it is fighting against the pandemic and at the same time working to restart safely according to a clear and defined program and schedule.¡±
Italy has registered 115,088 deaths linked to COVID-19 since its outbreak emerged in February last year, the second-highest toll in Europe after Britain. The country has reported 3.79 million cases to date.
Rome is due to host three group games ¡ª including the tournament¡¯s opening match between Italy and Turkey on June 11 ¡ª and one quarterfinal.
Among the other 11 host cities, Budapest is looking to fill its 68,000-seater Puskas Arena at 100% capacity while St Petersburg and Baku have plans for 50%.
London, Amsterdam, Bucharest, Copenhagen and Glasgow agreed to fill their stadiums at capacities ranging from 25% to 33%.
London confirmed a minimum capacity of 25% for the three group matches and a last-16 game but the U.K. government¡¯s ¡®roadmap¡¯ could allow for a much higher capacity for the semifinals and final.
Dublin and Bilbao were unable to commit to at least some fans being able to attend games.
Munich¡¯s mayor said on Monday he could not rule out blocking fans from attending games in June due to the infection rate and protection orders in the Bavarian capital.
A final decision on whether those three cities remain hosts will be made at UEFA¡¯s executive committee meeting on April 19.
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