Over 2,000 fans to enter stadium to watch CSL Shanghai derby

More than 2,000 fans will be allowed into the stadium to watch the game between Shanghai SIPG and Shanghai Shenhua, after the Chinese Super League reported zero COVID-19 infections in the first phase of this season from July 22 to September 28.

More fans are expected to be allowed to enter stadiums to watch games during the second phase of the season, due to start on Friday.

The CSL administration originally planned to sell 5,000 tickets for Sunday's Shanghai derby, according to Shanghai Shenhua press official Ma Yue.

"But for various reasons, that plan has been changed, and according to the updated program, both clubs will each organize over 1,000 fans to watch the match through their supporters' groups. All of them will take designated buses to the stadium and back," Ma wrote on social media on Wednesday.

The COVID-19-affected 2020 CSL season saw teams split into two groups, with each side played the others in a round-robin format in Dalian and Suzhou respectively.

The top four teams in each group after the 14 games of the first phase will move into the championship group, with games to be played between October 16 and November 12 in Suzhou.

The remaining teams will play out the season in Dalian, with the bottom side being relegated and the second-bottom side facing a playoff against the winners of the second-tier League One for a place in next season's CSL.