Euro 2020 fan zone information and capacity at club stadiums: FOI release

Information requested

Information regarding the Euro Fanzone.

What information did the Scottish Government have available to them that deemed a fan zone of 3k per session safe, and why has that not been applied to the Scottish Football games currently happening?

What contact have the Scottish Government had with clubs regarding this decision made for upto 2k in the stadiums? What powers do local authorities have to increase capacity?

Did UEFA threaten to take away Euro 2020 hosting rights if criteria weren't met? Such as attendance numbers and fan zone members. And what response did the Scottish Government take to this?

What data supports the cap for 2k attendance despite previous Scottish Government level promises of 25% attendance?

Response

What information did the Scottish Government have available to them that deemed a fan zone of 3k per session safe, and why has that not been applied to the Scottish Football games currently happening?

The Scottish Government undertook significant consultation with public health officials and clinicians who provided advice throughout development of Glasgow City Council’s Fan Zone proposal. The fan zone provided an outdoor, highly regulated space for fans to watch the tournament. Although there was up to 3000 people permitted in attendance per session, this was a large, outdoor space with normal capacity for up to 80,000 people. Necessary physical distancing and hygiene measures were also in place. In addition, there was comprehensive stewarding, cleaning and contact tracing provisions in place and everyone attending was encouraged to take a lateral flow test prior to the event. I have also provided a link to information we have previously released about how decisions on the Fan Zone were made: https://www.gov.scot/publications/foi-202100212141/.

EURO2020 was part of the Scottish Government’s Flagship Events Programme. The programme was developed in order to support a small number of internationally significant events to take place with an agreed number of spectators, or conditions, that would otherwise not be permitted, subject to epidemiological conditions.

What contact have the Scottish Government had with clubs regarding this decision made for up to 2k in the stadiums. What powers do local authorities have to increase capacity?

The Scottish Government met with the Scottish FA to set out the position and asked them to communicate the guidance and regulations to clubs.

We want event organisers to be able to plan future activity with confidence, while seeking to move very carefully to ensure continued suppression of COVID-19.

The First Minister’s statement on 13 July confirmed that from 19 July the country would move to Level 0 and that the size of events and stadia attendances would increase outdoors to 2,000 seated and 1,000 standing, and indoors to 400. If event organisers wanted to organise an event when in Level 0 in excess of the relevant capacity limits, they had to apply for approval to the local authority.

This requires Event organisers to apply in line with the requirements of the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions and Requirements) (Local Levels) (Scotland) Regulations 2021 as amended and provide the Local Authority with an application in writing (can be email) along with the minimum of:

• A description of the type of event (or events) proposed,
• An event plan for the event (or events) proposed, and
• A risk assessment for the event (or events) proposed, including what measures are proposed relating to the prevention or minimisation of the risk of the incidence and spread of coronavirus arising from the event (or events).

Did UEFA threaten to take away Euro 2020 hosting rights if criteria weren't met? Such as attendance numbers and fan zone members. And what response did the Scottish Government take to this?

The Scottish Government worked with The Scottish FA and Glasgow Life on a range of planning scenarios for hosting the four UEFA EURO 2020 matches in Glasgow in response to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, both in terms of allowing spectators in the stadium and the creation of a Fan Zone in the city for the duration of the tournament. Following extensive consultation with the Scottish Government and public health advisers, the Local Organising Structure confirmed that it had submitted details of its preferred option for admitting spectators to the stadium to meet the 7 April UEFA deadline. This resulted in approval to allow spectators up to 25% of the stadium capacity (approximately 12,000 - based on the UEFA EURO 2020 venue overlay and seating configuration) for each of the four games to be staged at Hampden Park. This was subject to continued progress with reducing the prevalence of the virus and the roll-out of the vaccination programme.

What data supports the cap for 2k attendance despite previous Scottish Government level promises of 25% attendance?

The Scottish Government does not have the information you have asked for because throughout the pandemic our approach and principles are as set out in our Framework for Decision Making, based on clinical evidence, expert advice, and a balanced assessment of the risks. It is not possible to publish scientific evidence specifically, as neither the Scottish Government, the Chief Medical Officer's Advisory Group or SAGE have produced evidence papers on a sectoral basis. Instead, we have used scientific evidence on transmission coupled with the social and economic benefits, which Ministers have used to make decisions.

This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested.

I have provided a link to SAGE papers on risk of transmission: S0824_SARS-CoV- 2_Transmission_routes_and_environments.pdf (publishing.service.gov.uk)

About FOI

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