Not only is football back… the fans are allowed back!

By Chris Todd

The football season is almost upon us with kick off next Sunday 15^th August, and if you’re a fan, you really cannot wait, especially as there was confirmation yesterday by the Spanish Government of the return of supporters to stadiums after 18 months of playing matches behind closed doors.

Our local teams CD Tenerife and UD Las Palmas, both play in the Spanish Second Division, and are ready to welcome back 40% of their stadiums capacity. This would set a limit of approximately 9,200 fans in Tenerife, which is a similar amount as season ticket holders, and just over 12,000 in Gran Canaria.

There will be restrictions at all grounds for the first few matches; no food or drink sold (although free water will be handed out), social distancing in the stands, masks to be worn, no away fans permitted, but supporters are just excited to be back after such a long break. The situation will be reviewed at the start of September and it is hoped that these restrictions will be relaxed further, especially regarding masks as stadiums are open air.

This season is an extra special one for CD Tenerife as they will be celebrating their 100th Anniversary in 2022, although various initiatives have already begun, and the mood at the club is cautious but optimistic.

Englishman, Sam Shashoua, was one of CD Tenerife’s brightest sparks last season and there is hope that his best year is yet to come, and right-back Shaq Moore is back from winning the Gold Cup with the USA last week, and was in fact included in the team of the best players of the tournament. Howeve, the club will do well to keep him after interest from Premier League clubs, Real Betis in Spain, and Galatasary in Turkey.

The big Canarian derby matches between UD Las Palmas and CD Tenerife fall on October 17th in Gran Canaria with the reverse fixture on January 2nd in Santa Cruz this season… a New Year cracker! Let us hope that stadiums by then can enjoy their full capacities and away fan allocation.

It has also just been confirmed that both clubs are to receive an unexpected windfall of around 11 million euros very shortly, as their share of a new investment deal by American fund CVC into La Liga. The money will be welcome to both clubs following the pandemic, as they begin their quest for promotion next weekend.