The Dutch Football Association said on Tuesday that it will allow more fans to attend the “Johan Cruyff” stadium in Amsterdam to watch matches in the European Championship, after raising the number to 16,000 spectators.
Amsterdam will host four matches in the tournament, three of which are in the first round and one in the round of 16, and had previously intended to allow about 12,000 spectators to attend each match.
However, the number of tickets available has been increased to a third of the stadium’s capacity following a Dutch Cabinet decision today.
“Last April, it was decided to attend up to a quarter of the capacity of the “Johan Cruyff” stadium, but based on the results of several studies and an assessment of the situation of the Covid-19 epidemic in June… the capacity was increased to a third of the stadium,” the KNVB said in a statement.
European Championship director Giggs de Jong added, “It is wonderful that the situation with the Corona epidemic, which now appears to be under control, has improved.
“We are happy to now allow more fans to attend. It is great that capacity is increased while maintaining safety. This is the result of joint cooperation with the health and sports authorities, the municipality of Amsterdam and other partners.”
But all fans will have to present a certificate of a negative test for Covid-19 before they are allowed to enter the stadium, while the Dutch Football Association said that the European Union (UEFA) will now consider how best to distribute the new tickets that will be issued.
It is noteworthy that Amsterdam is one of 11 cities to host the tournament, which begins on June 11.