Javier Thebes, president of LaLiga, has brought together all the First and Second Division teams together this morning (through telematic means) after the announcement of the reopening of the stadiums in the last two days. The criteria to open them (only in Communities in epidemiological phase 1, that is, less than 50 accumulated incidence) has not liked anything in the clubs, more openness was expected by the Government after what was discussed in previous meetings. Even so, the teams accept it and are already preparing different plans for the return of the fans. A return that is to be carried out with all the sanitary measures, according to each Community, but that also supposes a festive atmosphere and a small victory against the virus. At the same time experiment for the next season.
LaLiga teams have shown their anger with the Government during the meeting. They consider the measures inconsistent. Like, for example, that some teams may not be able to open their fields when their cities are in Phase 1, but their Community cannot. To which we must add that if they can open those same fields for other categories (Second B or women's football) or other disciplines.
In addition, they are hurt that the Government maintains the powers of professional football, while that of other sports and non-professional football depends on the Autonomous Communities. Something that LaLiga requested from the Ministry and the CSD, but whose request has not been heard. They consider that the decision to open the stadiums now has more of a political than a sporting background. They understand that they do not want to transfer these powers to the Communities because some of them would open the fields when the Government believes that due to the health situation it should not be. But Some sources consulted also point out that from the Government there has been a change after the elections in Madrid, going from a conservative tendency to one of openness after the result of said elections, which Ayuso won under the motto of greater freedom. Something that could have influenced to receive now the yes to open the doors of the stadiums. LaLiga had previously received several refusals from the Government despite having had such conversations for a year and that they expected to have received the go-ahead before and not now. From the employer it was intended that the return of the fans had occurred at least a month ago, which it would have allowed to reduce the noise on the integrity of the competition (whether it will help or hurt the presence of fans in the stadiums for the title fight, Europe or relegation) and it would have served to show that football is safe for next season's season ticket campaign.
Although LaLiga will not make any statement evaluating the Government's decision, several of the clubs that feel harmed are doing so individually to show their disagreement. But there is not only anger in the First and Second Division teams, also in the Spanish Football Federation, since they have not been consulted anything.
Preparations for the return of the public
LaLiga has prepared a protocol for a year for when this moment arrives and the fans return to the stadiums: arrival and departure times, facility requirements, sanitary regulations that fans must comply with such as being five feet away and not being able to smoke, wearing FPP2 masks without a valve … A document that has been updated as the virus has become more known and the pandemic has evolved to adapt it to current sanitary regulations. A week ago, the LaLiga Delegate Commission approved the draft and that some stadiums will be reopened and others not in case the epidemiological situation of some Communities does not allow it. It's more, Although some clubs are authorized to open their stadium, they may not do so, since the decision is voluntary and not mandatory. The decision will be made by each team individually and negative surprises are not ruled out.
Some clubs are finalizing the criteria to decide which fans are the ones who will enter the field. While some think about popular prices, others think about raffles and that they are free tickets. Each team will adapt the protocol to the health requirements of their Community and even some such as Castellón would give less space than allowed: it would be around 4,000 when the Government has approved 30% of the capacity, with 5,000 spectators being the figure maximum allowed. It is intended that the experience of these two days serves as an experienced for the next season, when it is expected that the allowed capacity will be greater and can be accessed in all the Autonomous Communities.
For now Valencian Community, Galicia, Extremadura, the Balearic Islands and Murcia will be the benefited territories, despite the fact that in some cases it has not been firmly confirmed as their ratios are between one phase and another. In fact, since the Government did not publish a list of the affected parties, there have been several unresolved doubts in the air that are expected to be clarified today. Asturias and the Canary Islands, in phase 2 but with options to enter phase 1 Soon, they have options to see the public in this final stretch in the stands of Oviedo, Sporting, Tenerife and Las Palmas, as well as in their ACB teams (Tenerife and Gran Canaria).
The First Division matches that may have an audience are the Villarreal-Sevilla and Valencia-Eibar from matchday 37; and Elche-Athletic, Levante-Cádiz and Celta-Betis from the 38th. In Second, there will be up to eight games in this decisive stretch of the championship. And in the ACB, four to be played at the Fuente de San Luis (Valencia Basket), at the Palacio (UCAM Murcia) and at Fontes do Sar (Santiago). MoraBanc Andorra, which has already entered the public in Europe, awaits guidelines. The Extremadura case does not affect professional sports.
“It will be with 30% local fans and a ceiling of 5,000 people. The Valencian Community can: the matches of Valencia, Villarreal, Levante, Castellón and Elche may have an audience,” Minister José Manuel Rodríguez Uribes explained yesterday.
Valencia prepares to open the stadiums
The three Valencian football clubs already benefited for this weekend by the decision of Health and the League are studying in depth the details of the return to the public. Each of them, Valencia, Villarreal and Castellón, have their own peculiarities. By order of return of spectators, Castellón, which plays on Saturday at 4:00 p.m., works against the clock to implement the protocol that it had planned. Where appropriate, to comply with the security measures dictated by Health, the stands of the Castalia stadium will be accessed by 4,000 people. The club has reported informing this Thursday that a raffle will be held among its subscribers and tickets will be free.
Valencia and Villarreal also have their peculiarities. Mestalla will open its doors to the public on Sunday, this has been confirmed by the club. But it remains to be detailed which specific areas of the stadium will house the 5,000 spectators who will initially access (just over 10% of the Mestalla capacity). In principle, due to logistics, the Tribuna stand will remain closed. The reason is that the public access areas from Sweden Avenue are occupied during the pandemic by the dressing rooms of the home and away team. According to protocol, the club will give priority to the 6,000 subscribers who opted for Option 1 in the compensation plan presented by the club for the games played behind closed doors in 2019/2020. On their website they report the deadlines for the sale of tickets online.
The Villarreal, which curiously today has reported that all the fans who signed up for the trip to Poland for the Europa League have a guaranteed place, maintains institutional silence on the matter of studying in detail the return of the public to La Cerámica for Sunday's game against Sevilla. However, operators of the entity have already begun to prepare the entrances (some were under construction) and the seats (currently occupied by cardboard with the faces of fans), although Villarreal, for now, has not officially communicated its decision.