[Sport] Belgium prohibits sports competitions with the public due to the omicron variant

[#Wittels-]

The measure will be adopted from this Sunday, when matchday 21 of the Pro League is played.

Belgium will not be able to hold sports competitions with the public either indoors or outdoors as of next Sunday due to the concern generated by the omicron variant, the authorities announced this Wednesday.

"Our country has known for three weeks a fairly stable set of measures (...) to fight against the delta variant and those measures have had an effect" but it is clear that "we must worry about the omicron variant," he said this Wednesday in press conference with Prime Minister Alexander de Croo.

 

Despite the fact that infections have fallen for three weeks, and the cumulative incidence has gone from more than 2,100 points at the end of November to 1,293 points today, the Government and the regions have agreed to prohibit public events indoors, such as cinemas, theaters and concert halls, and certain outdoor activities.

Among them, the celebration of sports competitions with the public, so that the stadiums will not be able to receive fans in the stands, as had already happened in other waves of infections in Belgium during the coronavirus pandemic.

The new restrictions, which are in addition to those already in force, such as teleworking or the night-time closing of bars and restaurants, will apply from this Sunday, so that six matches of the first football division may not be held with the public unless the matches Get ahead of Saturday.

The managing director of Pro League, organizer of professional soccer leagues in Belgium, Pierre François told the RTBF chain that "this closure is going to hurt", adding that it generates "great concern" to know if the clubs will be able to sell tickets again in January and asked the ministries of Finance and Social Affairs to review the situation in the sector.

 

Link: https://www.eluniverso.com/deportes/futbol/belgica-prohibe-competiciones-deportivas-con-publico-por-la-variante-omicron-nota/