June 24 – Dutch football is looking at the return of football fans at matches in September with the government expected to give the go ahead to allow spectators into stadia this week.
The Dutch Eredvisie will kick off its new season September 12 having suspended the league in March before deciding to void the 2019/2020 season because of the coronavirus outbreak.
The Outbreak Management Team, the Dutch consultant advisory body of experts, is expected to recommend that fans should be allowed to attend matches but only on the basis of being subject to strict public health restrictions.
Fans will have to observe social distancing rules with clubs allowed to fill their grounds to only a third of their capacity. According to Dutch media, signing or chanting would be prohibited.
Alongside Belgium, France and Scotland, the Netherlands was one of few European countries to cancel their league and so for the first time since World War II, the Dutch did not crown a champion.
In April, a nationwide lockdown was extended and prime minister Mark Rutte dismissed the idea that football, even behind closed doors, could return anytime soon. Nine match days, for a combined total of 162 games, were left to play.
Contact the writer of this story, Samindra Kunti, at moc.l1735059826labto1735059826ofdlr1735059826owedi1735059826sni@o1735059826fni1735059826