Coronavirus

São Paulo governor to allow football fans to return to stadiums

stadiums Corinthians and Palmeiras play the São Paulo Derby before and empty stadium in 2020. Photo: Rodrigo Coca /Ag.Corinthians
Corinthians and Palmeiras play the São Paulo Derby before and empty stadium in 2020. Photo: Rodrigo Coca /Ag.Corinthians

After pleas from the five São Paulo clubs which play in the first division of Brazilian football, Governor João Doria decided to allow fans to return to stadiums as of October 4. The governor announced on Twitter that stadiums can operate at 30 percent capacity at first, rising to 50 percent by October 15, and then scrapping attendance limits by November 1.

To gain entry, fans will either have to provide proof that they are fully vaccinated or take a Covid test beforehand.

Brazilian clubs have been warring over the right to invite fans back to their stadiums, being desperate to once again receive revenue from gate receipts. The country’s best-supported club Flamengo sparked controversy when it obtained a court injunction allowing fans to attend its home matches, and the club had a near full house at the Maracanã stadium in Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday night for its Copa Libertadores semi-final tie.

As things stand, however, Bahia is the only top division side yet to receive guarantees from its state government that it will be able to host fans at home matches as of next month.