People say that no other sport can unite people like football. Well, maybe not this time around, folks.

It is less than a week until Denmark’s first match in Euro 2020, and it has already divided the people on whether it may be possible to allow more in the stadium.

A parliamentary majority backs allowing more people into Parken stadium to watch Denmark’s three group games, along with a last-16 encounter featuring unknown teams.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, there are only 15,900 seats available for the matches – less than half the stadium’s capacity of 38,065.

MPs in favour
“We want more spectators to come. It is a huge event that will not happen again,”  Venstre’s spokesperson for sport, Sten Knuth, told DR.

Following the successful reintroduction of crowds at Superliga games, other party members also support allowing more people into the stadium, provided they stick to the current health authority’s recommendation.

“I think we have been able to see that it has been a success with the matches in Superliga. So why not consider more spectators at the European Championship matches, which is a historic event,” said Radikale’s spokesperson for such matters, Kristian Hagaard.

Potential super-spreader event
However, while most MPs support an increase, the health authorities believe it is too risky. 

Leading epidemiologist Lone Simonsen was among those who advised the government to limit the numbers to 15,900, and she remains adamant that it is the right number.

“We cannot ensure there won’t be infected people in the stadium, particularly when you you admit people who have been tested within the last 72 hours,” she told DR.