Fans set to return for Croatia’s October Nations League matches in Zagreb

Maksimir stadium (Photo credit: Marko Vrdoljak/Zagreb Tourist Board)

ZAGREB, 2 October 2020 – Yesterday, the UEFA Executive Committee decided to allow the partial return of spectators for UEFA matches where local laws permit, starting from next week’s national team matches.

UEFA has allowed home fans to return to stadiums but not away fans as yet. Up to 30 percent of the stadium’s capacity will be allowed, depending on local laws. 

Social distancing will be mandatory for spectators and additional precautionary measures, such as the wearing of masks must be implemented in accordance with local regulations.

Croatia will take on Sweden on 11 October and France on 14 October at Maksimir stadium in Zagreb and there seems to be no reason why 30 percent of the stadium’s capacity will not be filled with fans. 

The Executive Board of the Croatian Football Federation (HNS) decided in September to allow spectators to return to football matches. Up to 30 percent of the capacity of each grandstand has been allowed since 18 September in Croatian First Division, Croatian Football Cup, Croatian 2nd Division, and the first divisions of the juniors, cadets, and pioneers’ matches.

“UEFA has announced that spectators will soon be able to return to matches within UEFA competitions where local laws permit. HNS will announce the impact of this decision on our October matches against Sweden and France as soon as possible,” HNS said on social media. 

Commenting on the decision, UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin, said:

“Today’s decision is a sensible first step which puts fans’ health first and respects the laws in each country. While we all face a common enemy in COVID, different countries have different approaches and different challenges at any given moment. This decision allows much more local flexibility to deal with admitting fans than was previously the case, always respecting the assessment of local authorities.

“27 countries on the continent already allow fans to some extent. This decision will allow for a coherent approach on a country-by-country basis and not on a competition-by-competition basis which was sometimes difficult to understand for fans.

“In these difficult times, it is important to bring more hope and passion back into the lives of football fans and we urge them to behave appropriately and respect sanitary measures in place for their own health and for the health of their fellow club or national team supporters.”