The government has set a date of October 1 for the limited return of spectators to all sports events, subject to social distancing requirements. The Sports Grounds Safety Authority (SGSA) expects stadiums to be between 17 per cent and 33 per cent full when spectators are permitted to return while maintaining social distancing, and are expected to be around 25 per cent full on average.
Brighton set to be first Premier League club to welcome fans back
Brighton & Hove Albion are in line to become the first Premier League club to welcome back fans and could host a pilot event as early as this weekend.
Matches in the Women’s Super League (WSL) and at Wembley are also included as proposed football test events for the return of spectators.
The government is expected to confirm that up to 2,500 fans will be allowed into Brighton’s match against unnamed opponents at the club’s Amex stadium to take place either over the Bank Holiday weekend or next week. A second match at Brighton involving more spectators may also be held later in September.
The Times has learned that other football matches lined up as pilot events include the WSL match between West Ham United and Arsenal at Dagenham & Redbridge’s ground on September 13. Under the proposals, up to 1,000 supporters would be allowed to attend that game.
Wembley Stadium has been proposed as a test venue for fans for the FA Trophy and FA Vase finals, on September 20 or 27, with up to a maximum 10,000 supporters in the stadium. This is also likely to be the first test event of supporters attending from more than one club.
The WSL game between Manchester United and reigning champions Chelsea on September 6 had been proposed as a pilot event but will not be included due to local concerns surrounding coronavirus infection rates.
The final decision on all pilot events will take into account local lockdowns imposed due to increases in coronavirus infections, and events will be held behind closed doors if there is a spike in the surrounding area.
Brighton have been chosen as the venue for a pilot event as the stadium is a modern Premier League ground, and has gained a reputation for being efficiently run.
The government and football authorities are keen to use the WSL as test events as the women’s competition did not return behind closed doors. The WSL match earmarked is likely to be televised, is at a National League ground and will be an early test of fans using London transport.
The Wembley non-League finals day is the only opportunity to use the national stadium during the test phase, and the FA is keen to have some fans allowed in for the England matches in October, including the friendly against Wales on October 8 and then, if permitted by Uefa, the Nations League matches against Belgium and Denmark at Wembley on October 11 and 14 respectively.
Uefa’s president Aleksander Ceferin has signalled his desire for the partial return of spectators then — though not before. He said: “It’s sad in the stadium where you hear the coaches shout. It’s not the same football, but it’s still better than nothing. I hope that we will have at least some spectators in in October. I think we should start if the situation with Covid doesn’t worsen.”
Other test events have taken place in snooker and county cricket. Proposals have also been submitted for racing’s St Leger Festival at Doncaster on September 9-12 and the Cambridgeshire Festival at Newmarket starting on September 24.
Original article 25.08.20 on The Times website.
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