The Italian Government has given the all-clear for stadiums to be open at 50 per cent capacity, but fans can only enter with a Green Pass proving their COVID status.
The Green Pass is also known as the EU Digital COVID Certificate, proving an individual has been vaccinated, received a negative test result within 48 hours or recovered from COVID-19 in the last six months.
It is recognised all over the European Union and will become a key part of the fight against the Coronavirus going forward.
The Italian Government announced this evening that the Green Pass would be essential for anyone wanting to access a sporting event, cinema, theatre, museum, gym or even to sit down at a restaurant from August 6.
The Undersecretary for Sport Valentina Vezzali had asked for open-air stadiums to be allowed to open at 75 per cent capacity.
However, the Government has so far only given the go-ahead for 50 per cent capacity, reduced to 25 per cent for sporting arenas that are enclosed.
These are the maximum allowable numbers and only valid if the region is in the so-called ‘White Zone’ – meaning the minimal level of restrictions.
The zones are decided by the percentage of citizens currently in hospital with COVID.
It had been hoped that nightclubs would be reopened in Italy with the Green Pass, but these remain closed.
The state of emergency for the pandemic has also been extended to December 31, 2021.
The Serie A season is due to kick off on August 21, but no clubs are selling season tickets yet because there was so much uncertainty over who could access the stadiums.