German football to allow fans, Indy 500 scraps idea of spectators

Robert Lewandowski of Bayern Munich stretches for the ball during the Bundesliga match against VfL Wolfsburg in Wolfsburg, Germany, June 27, 2020. /VCG

Germany's first and second division football clubs on Tuesday said they were prepared to allow some fans back into stadiums next season if the country's political authorities give the green light later this month.

As the new Bundesliga season set to start on September 18, fans would only be allowed to sit, tickets would be personalized so spectators could be traced, alcohol at matches would be banned until October and there will be no away fans until the end of the year.

"The priority in Germany at the moment is not full stadiums, but people's health," said Christian Seifert, chief executive of the Bundesliga after a virtual meeting of the clubs.

Several fan groups have criticized the plans, fearing long-term restrictions of their rights.

Borussia Dortmund players battle for the ball during the first training session after the summer break in Dortmund, Germany, August 3, 2020. /VCG

However, the league insists any changes would only be temporary while the pandemic continues to be a factor.

Seifert says the rate of infection must be taken into account and "should by no means be underestimated."

"Professional football can only return to normality in stages," he added.

Bundesliga clubs lose millions of euros in match day revenue for each game played in front of empty stands and are eager to welcome fans back.

For example, Borussia Dortmund, who finished second to champions Bayern Munich last season, are planning to have up to 15,000 fans for home games next season.

On a typical match day in Dortmund, over 81,000 spectators would fill Signal Iduna Park.

However, Seifert said even a figure of 10,000 at matches would be hard to justify with large events banned in Germany until October 31.

General view of the 101st Indianapolis 500 in Indiana, United States, May 28, 2017. /VCG

Meanwhile in the U.S., the Indianapolis 500 will not have any spectators in attendance after the Indianapolis Motor Speedway reversed direction on Tuesday, having originally planned for close to 100,000 fans at the race which has been rescheduled for August 23.

Widely recognized as the world's biggest single day sporting event, IMS had originally planned for a 50% capacity of 125,000 for the rescheduled race but last month trimmed that number to 25 percent.

However, with the COVID-19 pandemic raging in several regions of the United States, IMS said it was an abundance of caution that prompted them to abandon efforts to have any fans at the event.

(With input from agencies)