While Mexican soccer fans will be back in stadiums this weekend, the vibe still will be a little different.
With the swine flu outbreak tapering off across Mexico, soccer fans will be allowed in the stands to watch, but with restrictions. Guidelines for this week are that every other seat and every other row will remain empty. Families will be allowed to sit together.
Fans must wear facemasks, wash their hands when entering and walk to their seats in single file. And all fans will be quizzed about their health as they enter.
“The passion of football has to do with people being close together and singing,” said one fan in Mexico City. “Singing behind facemasks — it’s going to an odd feeling.”
Last week, the Mexican Football Federation closed the stadiums to fans and games were played with only reporters and officials onsite — costing the 18 first-division teams about $2 million in ticket revenues.
Fans in Mexico will be taking similar precautions to the ones taken by a fan of the Mexican soccer team Club America last month in Bridgeview, Ill.
Getty Images file photo
