Belgians to reopen stadia to 33% of capacity immediately

Anderlecht

June 28 – Belgian football clubs can welcome back fans to their grounds with a third of stadium capacity freed to allow supporters in, the Belgian Pro League has announced.

With Covid-19 cases dropping rapidly in Belgium, the ruling body overseeing Belgium’s top flight and 1B division has said stadiums will reopen to fans at 33% capacity, following a ministerial decree that came into force on June 27.

“From Sunday 27 June, clubs will again be able to work with sections for their matches, both in league and warmup matches, with a maximum capacity of 1/3 of their stadium,” a statement read.

“Both seating and standing places will be allowed, in bubbles of maximum 8 people. For the seated spectator, the face mask obligation will no longer apply once he sits down.”

The new measure will apply throughout the month of July, with the Pro League kicking off the new season on August 13. The ruling body has indicated it hopes to organize matches at full capacity by then.

Last season, the Pro League welcomed back a limited number of fans in late summer and early autumn with social distancing and other sanitary precautions applying, but when a second Covid-19 wave engulfed Belgian fans were banned again.

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