Italian sport minister Vincenzo Spadafora admitted at yesterday’s Gazzetta Sports Awards that it is too soon to think about fans returning in the stadia because the COVID-19 pandemic has not relented enough for it to be possible.
He was asked about it by Torino president Urbano Cairo, who also owns Gazzetta dello Sport that organized the event: “I think it is important, when possible, to bring back people into arenas, like England is doing, even with small numbers. It makes a difference for who watches the match on TV and for the players, who are accustomed to having somebody supporting them on the stands.”
Spadafora replied: “We are working with the CTS (the top public health committee in Italy) to re-open as soon as possible, but it is too soon given the current numbers. I can not make any prediction about when it will happen, but I agree with the principle.
Our view
With the government focusing on the precautions ahead of a potential third wave of infections in January while the second one has not completely abated yet, it is tough to believe mass gatherings will be allowed any time soon, also considering what happened in the summer, when the situation was much better but only a thousand fans were allowed on the stands. Among Italian scientists and decision-makers, the perception of football crowds is still paying the price for February’s game between Atalanta and Valencia, which some believe to have spread the virus across two nations.