From Friday, 1 October, the full 100 per cent capacity of fans will be allowed in the stands at league football matches in Spain.

The Ministry of Health has also given the green-light for the capacity of spectators at basketball matches to be increased to 80 per cent.

It will be mandatory to wear a mask at all times in sports venues, even if they are open and ventilated, and there will continue to be controls at the entrances and exits to avoid crowds.

The agreement this Wednesday (29 September) was, however, clouded in controversy, after it was initially announced that the Interterritorial Council of the National Health System (CISNS), would require the National Professional Football League and the League of the Association of Basketball Clubs (ACB) clubs to "always guarantee a minimum social distance of 1.5 metres."

Eating and drinking ban

This condition, obviously, was impossible to comply with to allow full capacity, so finally the Ministry of Health clarified that spectators should wear face masks and "respect the non-pharmacological protection measures against covid", without specifying distances.

The CISNS has also approved maintaining some other coronavirus control measures such as the ban on eating and drinking in the stands. Only water can sold and drunk. Smoking tobacco and electronic cigarettes is also prohibited.

It is also forbidden to attend sporting event if people present Covid symptoms, "as well as those who are in isolation or in a quarantine period due to close contact with a case."

The new are common for the whole country for the period between 1 and 31 October, both inclusive, and a new evaluation of the situation will be carried out in the last week of October.