The Dutch football association (KNVB) said they were delighted at the response to the experiment, being run in collaboration with the government, which will look at how many contact situations there are between people at the event.

“It shows people are eager to get back to the stadiums after a year of corona restrictions and sitting at home,” Gijs de Jong, secretary-general of the KNVB, told Dutch media on Thursday.

Spectators at the Johan Cruijff Arena on March 27 will be divided into different sections, where some must wear face masks but others will be allowed to go without them and be able to sing and shout encouragement to the team.

Spectators would have to show they had tested negative for Covid-19 before being allowed into the stadium and follow strict instructions on staggered entry into the stadium.