In order to spare the TV viewers and the professionals the view of the empty stadium seats, cardboard figures with the li. It will soon be the new norm, a cold and often unnerving sight that soccer and many other sports will have to get accustomed to over the coming months. Some teams in Europe have experience in staging games without flag-waving and loudly cheering fans — be it while serving a punishment for crowd trouble or, as was the case in February and March, because of a rapidly spreading virus that turned into a pandemic.
Now, almost every club will be planning for such a scenario as soccer leagues start to ramp up preparations for a resumption which will be staggered depending on how well countries have managed to contain the virus. The Bundesliga is planning to have a maximum of people in the stadium — everyone from players to TV cameramen. In Britain, which is in the peak of the virus outbreak, a return in late June is the possible — albeit optimistic — call from clubs in the Premier League.
One leading club official spoke of the need for at least people at matches. In Sweden, where soccer authorities are planning for a June 14 restart, a venue official at champion Djurgarden told the AP that it would be possible to limit numbers to 50 if fans aren't allowed in stadiums.
In Switzerland, leaked plans attained by daily newspaper Blick this week stated there should be no more than essential staff at games. Much depends on the directives from governments and the demands of domestic and international broadcasters, whose money clubs increasingly rely on. Players and match officials obviously are on the list. Each squad for a match has 18 or 20 players in major European leagues, and some back-ups will be required in case of late withdrawals.
There is a four-person team of match officials referee, two assistant referees and a fourth official , along with a replacement official. Other essential people include a match delegate, an anti-doping official, official photographers and staff from broadcasters like sound engineers, technicians, camera crew and producers , and medical workers.
