Euro 2020: Italy gives okay for fans to be present for matches in Rome's Stadio Olimpico

Rome: The Italian government has given the green light for fans to attend Euro 2020 matches scheduled for Rome’s Stadio Olimpico, including the tournament’s curtain raiser, the country’s football federation said on Tuesday. Rome is set to host the opening fixture for the delayed multi-host nation Euro, between Turkey and Italy in Group A on Friday, 11 June. The Italian capital was also picked to host Italy’s other group matches against Switzerland and Wales, as well as a quarter-final. “The willingness of the Italian government is excellent news that is good for the whole country, not just for football,” president of the federation (FIGC) Gabriele Gravina said in a statement. Gravina added that Italian health minister Roberto Speranza had asked the technical and scientific committee which advises the government “to find the best way to enable the presence of fans” for the matches. The European Championship will run until 11 July and is currently programmed to feature matches played in 11 other cities: London, Munich, Baku, Saint Petersburg, Budapest, Bucharest, Amsterdam, Bilbao, Glasgow, Dublin and Copenhagen. European football’s governing body has given all 12 host cities until Wednesday to present their health plans to allow at least small numbers of fans into stadiums. Cities that fail to guarantee fans for European Championship matches risk having their games relocated to other venues. In March, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin made it clear he did not want any matches played “in front of empty stands” at the Euro. Italy coach Roberto Mancini said recently that it would be a “great disappointment” for his Azzurri side to not play matches in Rome. On Saturday Scotland’s national clinical director said he was confident Hampden Park in Glasgow will be able to accommodate fans for four matches, while the German FA is pressing for fans to be allowed to attend games at Munich’s Allianz Arena.