The Arena Johan Cruyff has already welcomed 5,000 people during the last Oranje match at the end of March. – Pieter Stam de Jonge / ANP / AFP
After Italy, which announced on Wednesday that it wanted to welcome a small audience at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome during the Euro, it is the Netherlands’ turn to follow the path. Amsterdam, one of the twelve host cities of Euro 2020, hopes to welcome “at least 12,000 spectators” during the four matches scheduled at the Arena Johan Cruyff, the Dutch Football Federation (KNVB) announced on Wednesday. In a press release, the KNVB even hopes to “welcome more spectators”, but this will be decided “according to the evolution of the Covid-19 pandemic”.
Amsterdam is set to host the Dutch team’s group matches against Ukraine (June 13), Austria (June 17) and North Macedonia (June 21), as well as a round of 16 on June 26. The twelve host cities of the tournament had until Wednesday, April 7 to submit their plan to welcome supporters to UEFA.
5,000 people in front of the Netherlands – Latvia at the end of March
The scenario submitted by the KNVB to UEFA is based on the “realistic” assumption that at least 25% of the capacity of the 55,000-seat stadium can be used. All spectators who wish to attend the matches will have to comply with the security protocols in place next June and present a negative Covid test result, the KNVB said.
The Dutch Federation hopes to be able to accommodate more than 12,000 spectators but also specifies that “if the pandemic were to worsen in June, the number of spectators could be reduced. “There is no guarantee yet,” said Gijs de Jong, director of the tournament in Amsterdam, adding that he had received the green light from the Ministry of the Interior and the Amsterdam city hall to implement this scenario providing for 12,000 places. available. On March 27, as part of the qualifications for the 2022 World Cup, the Netherlands hosted Latvia (2-0) in Amsterdam in front of 5,000 spectators.