That Ecuador vs. Argentina is played with 100% capacity in the Monumental, the FEF requested the national COE

Despite the fact that the Emergency Operations Committee (national COE) approved on Wednesday that the match of the Ecuadorian team against Argentina, on March 29 in Guayaquil, within the framework of the World Cup qualifier for Qatar 2022, will be play with 75% of the capacity in the Monumental Banco Pichincha, the Ecuadorian Football Federation (FEF) extended a new request to the national COE for the event to be held with a full stadium.

This decision was also extended for the return match next Tuesday (March 15) between Barcelona SC and América Mineiro, from Brazil, for the third play-off phase of the Copa Libertadores, which will also be played on the same stage.

The national COE responded to the first request from the FEF and Barcelona SC to increase the number of fans at the stadium to 75%, under other biosafety regulations that seek to reduce the risk of contagion by COVID-19.

Juan Zapata, president of the national COE, specified that with the established capacity of 75%, the Monumental stadium will be able to have 42,748 seats for fans.

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The FEF, however, sent a new letter to the presidency of the national COE in which they request the authorization of 100% capacity in the Monumental, “which represents a total of 56,997 people, for the Qualifying event for the Qatar 2022 World Cup – Ecuador vs. Argentina”, to be held on Tuesday, March 29, starting at 6:30 p.m.

“We made this request taking into account the statistics shown by the COE in recent days, on the significant decrease in infections and hospitalizations and the high vaccination rate that is currently registered,” justified the FEF in a statement dated 7 March 2022, signed by the head of the FEF, Francisco Egas.

The Ecuadorian team occupies third place in the South American qualifying round for the Qatar 2022 World Cup, behind Brazil and Argentina, first and second, respectively.

With 25 points, Ecuador will close the World Cup with matches against Paraguay, away, on March 24, and against Argentina, at home, five days later.

On their own, Barcelona SC will try to close their qualification for the Copa Libertadores group stage at their stadium, after Tuesday’s 0-0 draw with América MG in Belo Horizonte.

For LigaPro Serie A championship matches, the current capacity is 60%, although several clubs have requested that it be increased to 100%, with the aim of allowing the reactivation of the battered economy of national football. (D)