Euro 2020 host cities reveal fan plans

Published on: 07 April 2021

Wembley will host the final on 11 July among its seven games

The deadline for the 12 host cities of Euro 2020 to announce their plans for fan attendance has passed - so what is each country's position?

The tournament, delayed a year because of the coronavirus pandemic, will take place between 11 June and 11 July.

Host associations had been asked to submit plans to accept fans by 7 April.

London, Glasgow, Dublin, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, St Petersburg, Bilbao, Munich, Budapest, Baku, Rome and Bucharest are all due to host matches.

With Uefa expected to make a final decision on host cities at an executive committee meeting on 19 April, and all host cities required to guarantee fan presence, BBC Sport takes a look at the proposals of each.

London, England

Wembley, with a capacity of 90,000, is set to host the final on 11 July among its seven games - along with both semi-finals, one last-16 game, and all three of England's group games .

The British government has said up to 10,000 spectators will be permitted inside English grounds from mid-May, and unlimited numbers from 21 June.

The English FA also says it is prepared to host any additional games that cannot take place elsewhere, having already picked up extra matches originally allocated to Brussels.

Glasgow, Scotland

There were concerns that a failure to confirm fan numbers may result in Glasgow being removed as a host city, though First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said last month she remained hopeful Hampden Park would stage Euro 2020 matches this summer.

On Wednesday, the Scottish government gave approval for 12,000 supporters to attend games at Hampden in June.

That is 25% of Glasgow's 51,000-capacity stadium, where three group games - including Scotland's Group D fixtures against the Czech Republic and Croatia - and one last-16 game will be played.

Dublin, Republic of Ireland The Aviva Stadium's Euro 2020 fixtures could be in doubt

There are growing fears that Dublin may not be able to host Euro 2020 games, after the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) told Uefa it cannot provide assurances on minimum spectator numbers.

The FAI, acting on Covid-19 guidance from the Irish government, said "the matter will be kept under review", though it previously admitted it would only remain a host venue if it could guarantee fans would be permitted at games.

Dublin's Aviva Stadium is due to stage four games - three group games and one last-16 tie.

Amsterdam, Netherlands

At least 12,000 spectators will be able to attend matches in Amsterdam, The Royal Netherlands Football Association (KNVB) has confirmed.

The Johan Cruyff Arena, which can hold 54,000 fans, will stage three group games and one last-16 game.

"Depending on developments surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic in June, there is a chance that more fans will be allowed inside the stadium," the KNVB said.

Copenhagen, Denmark

Denmark will allow "at least 11,000 to 12,000" fans to attend Euro 2020 matches at Copenhagen's 38,000-capacity Parken Stadium, which is set to stage three group games and one last-16 game.

The Danish culture ministry said: "We will look at whether there can be even more spectators in the Parken if health conditions allow.

"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."

St Petersburg, Russia There are plans for the Krestovsky Stadium to be as much as 50 percent full

Russia expects to allow fans to attend the four games it is hosting at the 68,000-capacity Krestovsky Stadium in St Petersburg, which will host a quarter-final in addition to three group games.

The Russian committee's director Alexei Sorokin said he believed matches could be played "with the minimum of possible restrictions".

"We already have an agreement to fill the stands to 50% capacity," Sorokin said. "We are working to welcome foreign supporters and this has not been rejected by the authorities."

Bilbao, Spain

Bilbao had initially said it was ready to stage Euro 2020 games at the San Mames stadium at 25% capacity (about 13,000 supporters), as long as coronavirus rates dropped to levels accepted by the regional health authorities.

However, the Spanish football federation said in a statement on Wednesday that the Basque government's conditions were "impossible to meet" in time for the start of tournament on 11 June and it would therefore be unable to hold matches with spectators.

Munich, Germany

Germany are yet to give an indication of the number of fans that could be permitted, following a rise in coronavirus case numbers in the country.

The Allianz Arena, home to German champions Bayern Munich, has a capacity of 70,000 and is due to host three group games and a quarter-final.

Budapest, Hungary Bayern Munich were able to celebrate their Uefa Super Cup victory in Budapest with a limited number of supporters

Budapest's 68,000-seat Puskas Arena welcomed 15,180 fans for Bayern Munich's Uefa Super Cup victory over Sevilla in September.

However, Hungary are yet to make their plans to welcome supporters for three group games and one last-16 game public.

Baku, Azerbaijan

Wales will play two of their Group A matches of Azerbaijan's capital, Baku.

The country's Olympic Stadium, which can hold 69,000 fans, is scheduled to oversee three group games in all, along with a quarter-final.

While the Azerbaijan Grand Prix from 4-6 June will be held behind closed doors, there is yet to be a decision on Euro 2020 matches.

Rome, Italy

The tournament is due to begin in Rome on 11 June, as Italy face Turkey at Rome's Olympic Stadium.

According to the Italian federation (FIGC), the government "will identify the best solutions" to allow fans to attend its three group games and one quarter-final.

The FIGC say Rome will welcome spectators, though the number of fans who will be permitted has not yet been specified.

Bucharest, Romania

The Romanian Government plans to welcome 13,000 spectators at the National Arena in Bucharest.

Set to stage a senior men's major international tournament for the first time, Romania's 54,000-capacity stadium is to host three group games and one last-16 game.

Minister for sport Eduard Novak said: "We have the historical chance to be part of a large sporting event and to demonstrate that we can honour our obligations to the highest standards of organization and health safety."

Source: bbc.com

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