Italian Undersecretary for Sport Valentina Vezzali has suggested that there is a possibility that stadiums in Italy will be open at full capacity in time for the Milan derby and that Inter and AC Milan could face each other at the San Siro in front of a full capacity crowd.
Speaking at the Collari D’Oro event, as reported by FCInterNews, the Italian politician stated that the aim is to increase the stadium capacities in Italy to 100% soon and that this could allow for a full house for the Milan derby.
The Nerazzurri are set to face off against the Rossoneri on November 7 in a match which could be decisive in the Scudetto race and is always a major event in Italian football.
Under current regulations the San Siro could accommodate a 75% capacity crowd for the fixture, but the clubs will be hoping that the stadium could be filled for the occasion.
“In April we started a beautiful journey,” Vezzali stated. “I took a great responsibility with the risk of opening the stadiums for the European football championships to 25% capacity. From there the discussion moved to increasing the capacity to 75% outdoors and 50% indoors.”
“Now the epidemiological situation allows us to be optimistic,” she continued, “we all want to start again. If everything goes in the right situation we could reach 100% soon.”
Vezzali also gave her thoughts on the proposal for a new San Siro, stating that “As a government we have the opportunity to think of an investment through the PNRR on sports facilities equal to €700 million for sport which sees it as a project of inclusion and qualification and €300 million for school systems.”
“Obviously,” she went on, “bringing a World Cup to Italy would be significant in its meaning, it would allow us to consider different stadiums and to have them in a better condition.”
And on whether the Milan derby could be played in front of a 100% capacity crowd she stated, “Why not, it’s possible.”
