Football news - UEFA confirm Rome as EURO 2020 host city after crowd guarantees

ByReuters

Updated 14/04/2021 at 15:44 GMT

Rome’s Stadio Olimpico was confirmed as a Euro 2020 host venue on Wednesday after the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) told UEFA that fans would be allowed to attend matches. The tournament, scheduled to take place over 12 host cities across Europe, was postponed by a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and will now run from June 11-July 11.

A general view of the Stadio Olimpico before the UEFA Europa League group J match between AS Roma and Borussia Moenchengladbach at Stadio Olimpico on October 24, 2019 in Rome, Italy.

Image credit: Getty Images

UEFA has confirmed Rome's Stadio Olimpico as a host venue for the rearranged Euro 2020 tournament after it was confirmed fans would be permitted.

“The authorities have guaranteed at least 25% of the stadium’s capacity will be filled. As a result, UEFA considers Rome to be fully confirmed as a venue for the tournament,” read a statement from European soccer’s governing body.

A FIGC statement on Tuesday said that at least 25% of the 72,698-seater Olimpico would be filled after receiving approval from the Italian government.

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Rome is scheduled to host the opening game of the European Championship when Italy play Turkey on June 11, and will holding Italy's other two group games against Switzerland and Wales as well as one quarter-final.

The tournament, due to take place across 12 host cities around Europe, was put back by a year due to the coronavirus pandemic and will now run from June 11-July 11.

London, Amsterdam, Bucharest, Copenhagen, Glasgow, Budapest, St Petersburg and Baku have also been confirmed after agreeing to have fans in attendance.

However the status of Dublin, Bilbao and Munich remains uncertain.

Dublin and Bilbao could not commit to supporters being able to attend games, while the mayor of Munich said on Monday that he could not rule out blocking fans from going to games in June due to the infection rate and protection orders in the Bavarian capital.

They have until April 19 to provide assurances to UEFA, on which date the governing body's executive committee will meet and make a final decision.