Brazilian football fans have finally returned to stadiums after almost 18 months of games behind closed doors.
Flamengo was the first team to bring supporters back, with mandatory masks and capacity restricted to 25% at the 72,000-capacity Mane Garrincha Stadium in Brasilia for their Copa Libertadores round of 16 clash in late July with Argentina’s Defensa Y Justicia. The game was switched from Flamengo’s Rio de Janeiro base due to the easing of social distancing restrictions in the Brasilia region.
Tickets were sold using Imply technology, which manages Flamengo’s sales channels, with the club winning the tie 5-1 on aggregate.
Imply said: “Now, with technology as an ally of security protocols, the return of football with audiences in stadiums is a possible reality. On the occasion, Flamengo won more than just a game: above all, the club was reunited with the affection and support of its fans.”
Around 20% of the population in Brazil have been fully vaccinated against the virus, which equates to roughly 43 million people, with 147 million have been given at least one or both jabs overall.
Prior to the return of fans, the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) released a series of recommendations to safely integrate spectators back into the game.
The statement said: “The South American Football Confederation informs the ‘protocol of recommendations for the return of the public in the stadiums’ in the matches of CONMEBOL Libertadores and CONMEBOL Sudamericana 2021, from the eighth finals. It establishes a series of recommendations, which must be discussed with the health authorities of each country for their application and/or modification.
“CONMEBOL considers that the gradual return of the public is essential for the development of South American football, which is why, if the national authorities allow it, the return to the public in the aforementioned competitions is authorised.”
Image: Mario Roberto Duran Ortiz/CC BY-SA 4.0/Edited for size
Share this