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Spectators permitted for Inter’s Serie A coronation

Inter Milan has been granted permission to have spectators in the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza for its crowning as the new Serie A champion on Sunday, with a fan park also set to be established outside the stadium.

Inter clinched its first Serie A title in 11 years earlier this month and is set to be presented with the trophy during its final home game of the season against Udinese this weekend.

Fans have been prevented from attending football matches in Italy for the majority of the past year due to COVID-19, aside from a short spell at the start of the 2020-21 season when up to 1,000 spectators were admitted to stadia.

However, authorities are beginning the process to reopen sports venues and last month granted permission for Wednesday’s Coppa Italia final to have fans in attendance. The game, which saw Juventus defeat Atalanta 2-1, was held at Mapei Stadium in Reggio Emilia, home to Serie A club Sassuolo.

Mapei Stadium has a capacity of 21,000 and the government approved attendance for the Coppa Italia final at 20%, roughly equating to 4,300 fans. Speaking on the sidelines of the game, Lega Serie A president Paolo Dal Pino said the organisation hoped to be able to “deliver the Scudetto trophy to Inter with the public in attendance” adding that it would ask for at least 1,000 spectators.

Sky Italia reports that this request has been granted, albeit not allowing for the sale of tickets. Instead, the 1,000 people present at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza will be considered guests of Inter, such as club employees, sponsors and families of the players.

However, the Prefecture of Milan has approved a request from Inter’s Curva Nord supporters’ group to gather outside the stadium on Sunday. Up to 4,500 fans will be allowed in an area of around 19,000 square metres, but the sale of alcohol will be strictly prohibited.

Image: Tomas Peršolja on Unsplash