Barcelona v Bayern Munich - UEFA Champions League Quarter Final

Robert Lewandowski of FC Bayern Munich scores his team’s sixth goal during the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final match between Barcelona and Bayern Munich at Estadio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica on August 14, 2020 in Lisbon, Portugal. (Photo by Manu Fernandez/Pool via Getty Images)

UEFA Super Cup in Budapest to be attended by fans

Approximately 20 000 fans will be allowed to attend the 2020 UEFA Super Cup between Bayern Munich and Sevilla in Budapest

Barcelona v Bayern Munich - UEFA Champions League Quarter Final

Robert Lewandowski of FC Bayern Munich scores his team’s sixth goal during the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final match between Barcelona and Bayern Munich at Estadio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica on August 14, 2020 in Lisbon, Portugal. (Photo by Manu Fernandez/Pool via Getty Images)

UEFA has confirmed that the 2020 Super Cup will be played with fans in the stadium as a trial run ahead of the new season.

Champions League winners Bayern Munich will play Europa League champions Sevilla in the 2020 UEFA Super Cup in Budapest at the 60 000 seater Puskás Aréna on 24 September.

All games in the recent Champions League and Europa League final-stage tournaments were played behind closed doors due to the coronavirus pandemic however UEFA has since confirmed that fans will soon return to stadiums with the Super Cup being the first testing ground.

Fans to return at UEFA Super Cup

As many as 20 000 fans may be allowed to attend this year’s Super Cup in Hungary, the European football governing body confirmed via an official statement.

“The Executive Committee today decided to allow the 2020 UEFA Super Cup to be played on 24 September 2020 in Budapest with a reduced number of spectators – up to 30% of the capacity of the stadium – in order to study precisely the impact of spectators on the Return to Play Protocol.” – A statement read.

“The governing body’s Administration will keep monitoring the situation and advise the Executive Committee if any change is required or recommended in respect of either the 2020 Super Cup and/or the decision that all matches shall be played behind closed doors until further notice.

“These decisions follow the consultative meeting that UEFA held with its 55 member associations and where such matters were discussed on 19 August 2020.”

Soccer without fans lacks character – Čeferin

UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin has emphasised the importance of fans returning to stadiums to support their favourite teams after months of games behind closed doors.

“While it has been important to show that football can carry on in difficult times, without fans, the game has lost something of its character. We hope to use the UEFA Super Cup in Budapest as a pilot that will begin to see the return of fans to our matches.” Čeferin said.

“We are working closely with the Hungarian Federation and its government to implement measures to ensure the health of all those attending and participating in the game. We will not take risks with people’s safety.”

While the UEFA Super Cup is set to run as a trial, the governing body confirmed that no fans will be allowed to attend any other games until further planning and investigations are conducted.