For the first time in three years, Chornomorets Odesa played with spectators at its stadium

On May 18, the Odesa-based Chornomorets football team met with Dynamo Kyiv at its stadium as part of the Ukrainian Premier League championships.

According to the press service of the Chornomorets football club, this was the first game in three years that two sectors were officially opened for fans.

On May 13, the football club announced that it had received permission to hold a game with fans.

"For the match against Dynamo, Chornomorets football club received permission to hold a game with fans. Given the martial law, we are talking about opening two sectors. However, we are grateful to the responsible authorities for such a large number of seats," the club said at the time.

In March 2024, Chornomorets received permission from the Odesa Military Administration to hold a UPL match in the presence of fans at the stadium. At that time, Chornomorets hosted a match against NC Veres.

However, the club later announced that the match would be played without spectators. The day before, the FC management received a message from the UBA banning the game with spectators. The reason is the increased level of danger in the region. The club cancels all previously announced events to save the lives and health of fans.

Due to the full-scale Russian invasion, fans were banned from visiting stadiums in Ukraine. However, in December 2023, the Ministry of Youth and Sports developed a procedure for coordinating and holding sports events with spectators.

To ensure that football fans can attend matches again, a special working group will inspect stadiums before each game. It includes representatives of the State Emergency Service and the National Police. The commission identifies protective structures that can serve as shelters. They also ensure that all participants of the competition are accommodated at a distance of no more than 500 meters from the venue, taking into account the evacuation time of up to 10 minutes on foot.

The number of people that each shelter or structure can accommodate is determined for each stadium separately. The management of the venues should develop an action plan in case of an air raid alert, taking into account evacuation routes and conditions of unimpeded access for people with disabilities.

Competitors and specialists must be instructed and sign an orientation form, which is a mandatory part of the application for participation in the competition. Diagrams of evacuation routes must be posted in accessible places.

Кирило Бойко