Didier Lacroix, the president of the champion club of France 2019, had great hopes in obtaining a prefectural exemption to increase the gauge of 5,000 spectators and get a breath of fresh air for bloodless finances. He even hoped, "with optimism", to welcome Ulster on September 20, in a sold-out Stadium (33,000 seats). The measures announced this Wednesday by the town hall of Toulouse showered his hopes.
" I do not intend to authorize an exemption for gatherings of more than 5,000 people "
Étienne Guyot, prefect of Haute-GaronneThe wearing of the mask will indeed be generalized from Friday throughout the city of Toulouse, a first for a metropolis in France. Which obviously signs an end of inadmissibility to pass above the famous gauge of 5,000 spectators. The prefect of Haute-Garonne, Étienne Guyot, was clear on the subject this Wednesday at a press conference. “I do not intend to allow an exemption for gatherings of more than 5,000 people. It would be absolutely inconsistent with the measure I'm taking today. ” Officially, the prefectural decree for wearing a mask in Toulouse begins on August 21 and for a period of at least one month.
Already 30,000 tickets sold for the Champions Cup quarter-final
There will be no more than 5,000 supporters on Saturday evening for the opening of the Ligue 2 football season against Dunkirk. Ditto on September 12 for the first match of Stade Toulousain against La Rochelle, in Top 14, to Ernest Wallon. And especially for the famous quarter-final of the European Cup against Ulster at the Stadium on September 20. A huge disappointment for the club (and its supporters) since 30,000 tickets had already been sold.
READ ALSO: The president of Stade Toulousain "optimistic" to play in a full Stadium
It will therefore be necessary to determine which will be the 5,000 supporters who will be able to attend the match for 25,000 failing (and reimbursed). A catastrophic situation for a club whose president warned a month ago that "behind closed doors, he had a life expectancy of 40 days".
Following the statements made by Mr. le @PrefetOccitanie today, the club takes note of the decision not to increase the number of spectators during sports events in the department, in view of the current sanitary conditions.
https://t.co/njzK8OmXX8pic.twitter.com/bKeq5NDs70
In a press release published this Wednesday evening, the club takes "good note of the prefect's decision". But don't admit defeat. "We are continuing our discussions with the Prefecture and have already set a date in the coming days with the Prefect and his teams in order to present all the necessary guarantees and all the health safety protocols on which the club will commit. for each of its events. The Stade Toulousain will respect and support, as always, the expectations of the authorities in a respectful dialogue and collaboration at all times in order to find all of its spectators as soon as possible. "
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