Italy shuts its stadiums AGAIN with coronavirus cases on the rise as Government revoke the rule allowing 1,000 supporters into Serie A games just a month after reopening the doors
- Italy is closing stadiums again after small number of fans were allowed to return
- A new Government rule that will come into effect on Monday for at least a month
- It eliminates allowing up to 1,000 spectators at stadiums for football games
- Move is part of a series of new measures put into place after rise in Covid cases
Italy is shutting its stadiums to fans again just one month after 1,000 spectators had been allowed to return to sporting venues.
A new Government decree that will come into effect on Monday for at least a month eliminates the current rule allowing up to 1,000 spectators at stadiums for football games and other sports.
The move is part of a series of new measures put into place after new virus cases in the country reached more than 21,000 on Sunday.
Italy is shutting its stadiums to fans again after 1,000 spectators had been allowed to return
The 2019-20 Serie A season was finished without fans last season during the restart, but the Government decided last month to allow a maximum of 1,000 fans into stadiums.
The new rule says professional games are allowed in outdoor venues ‘without fans in attendance.’
When fans will be allowed to return to football stadiums in the UK is a constant topic of debate.
It was revealed last week that the Government will take the ‘earliest opportunity’ to consider the return of football fans to stadiums after putting the brakes on October plan.
However there is still no timeframe for discussions as clubs continue to feel the financial effects of a lack of matchday revenue.
Plans to allow supporters back into grounds at the start of the month were shelved due to increased cases of Covid-19, which has caused sport to be played behind closed doors since the lockdown in March.
There is still no timeframe in place for the safe return of football fans to stadiums in the UK
Fans were allowed to watch West Ham’s clash against Man City at cinema close to stadium
New virus cases in the UK reached just under 20,000 on Sunday but Britain has 874,000 total cases, compared to Italy’s 526,000.
West Ham manager David Moyes called for the Government to explain why fans cannot attend games but were able to watch their clash against Manchester City in a cinema a matter of minutes away from the London Stadium.
The Football Supporters’ Federation also slammed the ‘absurdity’ of fans being allowed into stadiums to watch their club’s games on TV – but not sit in the stands to see the live action.
A handful of Football League clubs, including the likes of Bristol City, have had spectators attending screenings of their home fixtures from hospitality areas inside their grounds.
Many clubs in the Football League are in dire straights financially due to the absence of fans.
Bristol City fans were allowed back inside Ashton Gate on Saturday as their team played Swansea City in the Championship – but they could only watch the game on television screens