Fans at games only after COVID-19 vaccine, says Dutch Health Minister

Amsterdam, May 7 (IANS) Netherlands Health Minister Hugo de Jonge on Thursday said fans won’t be allowed at stadiums until coronavirus vaccine is developed. All sport in Netherlands have been suspended till September in the wake of coronavirus pandemic.Writing to the Dutch parliament, De Jonge stated mass gatherings can only be allowed in the country after a vaccine is developed. “We cannot yet mention a date for the last step, the mass gatherings,” De Jonge wrote as per Sky Sports.”That is actually only possible if there is a vaccine and no one knows how long it will take. We hope of course soon, but a year or more is very real.”This means that even if sporting activities resume in the country in September, fans won’t be able to witness the matches from inside the stadium if vaccine isn’t developed by then.The Dutch Eredivisie was one of the first football leagues to be cancelled across Europe as a precautionary measure against the pandemic. There was no champion named for the season or any team being relegated from the top division.Cambuur head coach Henk de Jong had earlier called the move as the ‘biggest disgrace in the history of Dutch sport’. His side were 11 points clear at the top of second division and were set for promotion when the season was scrapped. –IANSbbh/