Infantino urges Italy to allow fans back in soccer stadiums

ROME: FIFA president Gianni Infantino met with Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte on Wednesday to discuss bringing back fans to soccer stadiums amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Infantino said it was the first of several meetings planned with government leaders.
"Obviously soccer without fans isn't the same thing," Infantino said. "But health is the most important thing. We have to see what happens now during this period that we're starting to live in contact with other people again."
Italian soccer matches have been closed to fans since the country was ordered into a strict lockdown in March.After a three-month break, last season's Serie A ended in August with all games played in empty stadiums.
The new season starts in 10 days.
Italy's official death toll from the virus tops 35,000 -- the second highest in Europe after Britain. The confirmed number of cases in the country stands at more than 280,000. The number of new daily infections has topped 1,000 for several weeks as Italy aggressively tests and traces people returning from vacation, especially hot spots like Sardinia.
Over the weekend, Conte came out firmly against reopening stadiums to fans.
"As far as I'm concerned, going to the stadium means an inevitable gathering, not only in the stands but for entering and exiting," Conte said Saturday. "It's absolutely inopportune."
Italian Soccer Federation president Gabriele Gravina accompanied Infantino to the meeting at the premier's palace.
Gravina said Conte was more concerned with getting children back to school this month but that the premier suggested he would then consider the question of soccer fans.
Also in Italy, the Stadio Olimpico in Rome is slated to host the opening game of the European Championship next June plus three other matches of the tournament, which was postponed to 2021.