England and Scotland fans planning to watch the World Cup in Magaluf this summer face a muted experience. The Calvia Town Hall has ruled that televisions on bar terraces must have all audio turned off after midnight, following the rejection of a bid for unrestricted special opening hours.
Restrictions Apply to Key Matches
The agreement, signed off by the mayor of Calvia, only applies to England, Scotland, Germany, and Spain games during the early stages of the tournament. The semi-finals, final, and third-place playoff matches will also be subject to the restrictions. Bars caught violating the rules will face penalties.
Timing and Enforcement
This year's World Cup features 13 different kick-off times, ranging from 5pm to 5am UK time. The council stated: 'On terraces and outdoor areas, all audio broadcasting must be completely turned off after midnight, with the volume set to zero.' Matches starting during regular opening hours can extend closing time until 15 minutes after the match ends, including extra time and penalties. However, if a fixture starts at or after closing time, it cannot stay open.
The rules also apply in neighbouring Palmanova. England begins its campaign against Croatia on Wednesday, while Scotland faces Haiti on Sunday.
Rising Tourism and Security Measures
Earlier this month, it was revealed that riot police will be deployed to Benidorm during the World Cup. The holiday hotspot has seen a surge in tourists wanting to watch football there after being priced out of travelling to the US, Canada, and Mexico. Flight comparison website Kiwi.com reported an 'unseasonal spike' in bookings for the summer, with Alicante and Benidorm routes seeing over a 300% rise.
