ROME: Up to 1,000 fans per game are being allowed back in to Italian Serie A stadia for the new season which has kicked off this weekend.

The late change to restrictions imposed in March because of the coronavirus pandemic followed talks between national and regional governments and heath and security advisers.

Sports Minister Vincenzo Spadafora: “I asked that, to avoid disparities between the teams and as an experiment in view of the further openings, that this decision be extended to the entire national territory.

“I thank (Health Minister Roberto) Speranza and the regions for sharing this view.”

Spadafora said the next target is permitting fans at lower league level.

He added: “My goal is to allow the participation of the public for all sports and for all categories, arriving at a single protocol that provides for a percentage of spectators based on the actual capacity of the facilities.”

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