Serie A is back to 50 percent attendance, as the COVID cases in Italy and worldwide are spiking again because of the Omicron variant. The capacity was at 75 percent for the last three months. The decision by the Italian cabinet is not as drastic in other countries. Germany and Netherlands have closed arenas for the time being. France will allow just 5k spectators in January, La Repubblica reports.
Only vaccinated people or those who have healed from Coronavirus can attend matches. They will have to wear an FFP2 mask, and they will not be allowed to buy food and drinks. The new guidelines will already come into effect for the two rounds on January 6th and 9th. Teams halted ticket sales to adjust. Roma-Juventus would already be over the limit.
Health undersecretary Andrea Costa told Sky: “These choices were the result of a compromise, and it will be a step-by-step process. Other nations have already shuttered stadiums. We will see what happens in the next few days, but I do not foresee further restrictions.”
Several Serie A teams are dealing with COVID cases as they are coming back to practice following the break. The situation has improved at Napoli since Lorenzo Insigne and Fabian Ruiz tested negative. On the other hand, Victor Osimhen posted a positive swab before flying back from Nigeria for a check-up on his facial fracture.
Salernitana continue to deal with a team-wide outbreak, and they could ask to postpone the next match against Venezia. Spezia have four infections, M’Bala Nzola, Rey Manaj, Viktor Kovalenko and Petko Hristov. Verona’s Giangiacomo Magnani, Genoa’s Domenico Criscito, Bologna’s Nicolas Dominguez and Nicolas Viola, and Torino’s Simone Verdi are in the protocol as well. Empoli and Sassuolo have multiple cases but did not disclose the names.