DUBAI: This year’s UAE President’s Cup final will welcome back supporters into a football stadium for the first time since the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
The UAE Football Association (UAEFA) on Tuesday announced that the May 16 final between Shabab Al-Ahli and Dubai neighbors Al-Nasr will see a maximum 30 percent capacity crowd allowed in while taking all precautionary measures into consideration.
The decision was taken after coordination with the country’s National Crisis and Emergency Management Authority, and the UAEFA confirmed the game will be played at the Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium in Al-Ain, the Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported.
The match may only be attended by those having received the COVID-19 vaccine, producing a negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test result, and showing the status of gold star or E on the ALHOSN UAE app. The PCR test must have been carried out within 48 hours before kick-off.
The initiative will be used to test the potential return of supporters to stadiums for the next stage of the joint World Cup 2022 and AFC Asian Cup 2023 qualifiers that will be hosted by the UAE.
Shabab Al-Ahli reached the final after beating Baniyas 1-0, while Al-Nasr overcame reigning UAE league champions Sharjah 3-0 in the other semi-final.
