Italy: exemption refused for a 100% capacity stadium vs Switzerland, in Rome on Friday 12/11/2021

The Italian Scientific Technical Committee has rejected the request for an exemption made by Valentina Vezzali, Undersecretary for Sport, who wanted the Italy-Switzerland qualifier for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, scheduled on Friday 12/11/2021 (kick-off at 20:45 CET) to take place with a 100% capacity at the 72,698-seat Stadio Olimpico in Rome (ITA), instead of the current 75% capacity limit, announced the body on 05/11/2021.

The CTS (Comitato tecnico-scientifico, a specialised body set up on 05/02/2020 to advise the Italian government in the fight against Covid-19) is basing its decision on the rising number of cases in Italy, as well as on the worrying statistics concerning the Latium region of Rome in particular.

"We are waiting for the green light to try, on an experimental basis, to increase the capacity of the Stadio Olimpico to 100%," hoped Gabriele Gravina, president of the FGC, on 04/11/2021.

Therefore, only 51,000 seats (70% of the Stadio Olimpico's capacity) are expected to be filled during the Italy - Switzerland match, a game between the two teams leading Group C with 14…