March 25 – At least 12,000 fans will be allowed to attend Euro 2020 matches this summer in Copenhagen, the Danish government has announced.
The Parken Stadium, Denmark’s national stadium and host venue during the finals, would be open at 30% of its 38,000 capacity, culture minister Joy Mogensen told broadcaster DR.
However, more fans could be allowed depending on the evolution of the crisis and subject to rules by local health authorities. The flip side of those guarantees to host fans amid health and safety measures is that Denmark reserves the right to close the stadium.
In a statement the ministry said: “We have also informed the DBU (the Danish football federation) and UEFA that it may be necessary to close to spectators if there is a spread of infection, so it will be unjustifiable from a health point of view to allow spectators to the matches.”
The Danish capital is due to host four matches during the tournament, including one round of 16 match. In Group B, the Danes will kick off their campaign against Finland at Parken Stadium. The finals were postponed by a year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We are very pleased that the government is reporting back in good time with a positive signal to get fans in the stadium for the European Championship,” said DBU administrative director Jakob Jensen. “It is a big and very important step to have a ‘football party’ and to feel a sense of community at Parken and throughout Denmark this summer.”
He added: “We hope that it will be possible to get even more fans in the stadium for the important European Championship matches, if the pandemic allows it, both to support the entire Danish men’s national team and to allow even more [people] to be part of the biggest sporting event on Danish soil ever.”
UEFA has asked all 12 host cities to submit minimum guarantees by early April, which the governing body has emphasized should include a minimum number of fans in the stand. UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has already said that playing matches behind closed doors is “off the table.”
On April 20, the European confederation will stage their congress when a final decision on host cities for Euro 2020 is expected.
Contact the writer of this story, Samindra Kunti, at moc.l1734919205labto1734919205ofdlr1734919205owedi1734919205sni@o1734919205fni1734919205