FOOTBALL fans in Holland will be banned from stadiums until a coronavirus vaccine is found but that could be YEARS away.
The Dutch health minister took the strong stance in a letter to parliament and warned it could be more than a year before the rules can be changed.
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All stadiums in Holland – including Ajax’s (pictured) – could be deserted for years under new measuresCredit: Getty – Contributor
The Dutch health minister said no fans will be allowed in stadiums until a vaccine is found which could be more than a year
All sport in Holland is already banned until at least September 1 and minister Hugo de Jonge expects it to be much longer before supporters can be back watching their team.
He wrote: “We cannot yet mention a date for the last step, the mass gatherings.
“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.”
Medical experts suggest in normal circumstances a vaccine can take up to ten years to develop.
But given around 460 trials are taking place worldwide, there are hopes a Covid-19 one will be developed much sooner.
Ajax were denied the Eredivisie title on April 24 after dutch PM Mark Rutte banned football.
The Amsterdam giants were leading rivals AZ Alkmaar on goal difference before the league was suspended.
And the Dutch FA (KNVB) then announced there would be no promotion or relegation.
That saw ex-West Ham boss Alan Pardew’s ADO Den Haag and RKC Waalwijk remain in the league, despite the latter team being 11 points from safety.
The Dutch federation also confirmed last year’s champions would not be awarded the top flight title, the first time in the league’s 64-year history that there will be no designated winner.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
