ProLeague Announces Return of Fans to Stadiums in September
Football fans will once again cheer for their favourite teams in Belgian stadiums from September. Government ministers from the relevant ministries approved a proposed protocol from the Pro League for matches with a restricted audience after a consultative meeting yesterday afternoon. The protocol which was approved unanimously, allows supporters to get into stadiums from the weekend of September 11-14.
“It will not be like before the Coronavirus crisis. There are still too many security measures and restrictions. But with this framework, we can slowly get back to normal. If we want people to remain motivated to adhere to the many measures related to the Covid-19 pandemic, we must also offer them a positive outlook,” said Ben Weyts, the Flemish Minister of Sports.
“Many Belgians are delighted to be able to once again attend a football match in the stadium and support their players during the match. I am therefore satisfied that the regional ministers were able to draw up a protocol in collaboration with, among others, the Football Unit of the FPS Interior and representatives of the police, which makes it possible to bring fans back to the stadiums in a safe manner. I also call on all supporters to respect the directives, both inside and outside the stadiums, so that football can once again become and remain a party,” said the Minister of the Interior and Security Pieter De Crem.
Structural consultation between the various ministers and the Pro League led to this detailed protocol. The constructive collaboration with the various cabinets and ministers thus makes possible the potential return of at least 400 supporters to their club’s home matches from September.
“Football without supporters does not have the same flavour. The protocol proposed by the Pro League allows supporters of the Jupiler Pro League and 1B Pro League to gradually return to the stadiums while ensuring health security. Since the start of the crisis, we have seen the great responsibility of players in the sports world. We are counting on the clubs to make these meetings a success despite the particular circumstances,” added Valérie Glatigny, Minister of Sports for the Wallonia-Brussels Federation.
Isabelle Weykmans, Minister of Sports for the German-speaking Community, stated: “Of course, we are always in a complicated situation and are looking for responsible solutions in order to bring a little smile to our athletes, clubs and football supporters. I am very happy with the consultation between the ministers and the representatives of the Pro League. This will allow us to slowly and carefully open the doors of the football stadiums. A fine example of collaborative work, which I very much appreciate.”
Clubs will implement the protocol individually to ensure the gradual return of supporters in the best possible conditions. The Pro League will continue to support its clubs in this area.
“We would like to expressly thank the various ministers for the work they have accomplished in recent weeks. Thanks to these joint efforts, we will soon be able to bring supporters closer to football again. We are convinced that our clubs and their supporters will do everything in their power to ensure that the return to the stadiums takes place as safely as possible,” said Pierre François, Pro League CEO.
