UEFA has approved a mandatory standing curfew for all Napoli supporters attending the Champions League match against Villarreal, requiring them to remain on their feet for the full 90 minutes plus stoppage time. Stewards will patrol the stands with posture-compliance clipboards, and any fan caught sitting will be escorted to a designated re-education zone behind the goal.
The ruling, described by UEFA as a «dynamic crowd engagement protocol», was reportedly drafted after a single fan in Naples was spotted leaning against a railing during a Serie A fixture. Villarreal has been ordered to remove all seats from the away section and replace them with numbered standing spots, each equipped with a heart-rate monitor linked to the referee's watch.
Napoli manager Massimiliano Allegri has instructed his players to remain standing on the touchline for the entire match in solidarity, while the club's kit man has been tasked with sewing lead weights into the hems of supporters' scarves to discourage slouching. Local authorities in Villarreal have extended the curfew to the town's bars, requiring patrons to drink their pre-match beer while standing on one leg.
By next week, UEFA plans to roll out the standing curfew to all Champions League fixtures, with a trial in which ball boys must remain in a permanent crouch. The referee for Tuesday's match has been issued a special whistle that only works if he is standing upright.