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Fans will be back at elite sporting events starting May 17, with 10,000 fans admitted to major venues such as Wembley and major Premier League football fields. However, the relaxation of the rules will come too late for the FA Cup final.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke in the House of Commons today about plans for a cautious return of fans to include top-class sport in the summer of the nation’s sport in time for the final round of Premier League, European Championship, Wimbledon and Rugby League World Cup games.
The government’s roadmap to easing lockdown restrictions includes four key steps.
The document states that fans will return to stadiums and halls in step three from May 17. Step four, which begins June 21 at the earliest, is the first possible chance for events at full capacity, depending on whether the scientists are confident it is safe to move on.
The fans have been banned from the stadiums since the first ban in March
It appears that there are NO limits to stadium capacity in step 4 if the virus is still on the wane and if government scientists believe it will be safe with tests to reduce the risk of infection.
Previously, as of May 17, a maximum of 1,000 viewers or half of their capacity indoors, if that number is lower.
For outdoor events, a maximum of 4,000 fans or half the capacity of a venue is allowed, whichever is lower.
In the largest stadiums with a capacity of more than 16,000, such as B. Wembley and Premier League football fields, but a maximum of 10,000 fans or a quarter of the capacity, whichever is lower.
The government roadmap states: “The government will also make special arrangements for large outdoor seating where the crowd can be safely distributed, allowing up to 10,000 people or 25% of the total seating capacity, whichever is the case is lower. In addition, as part of the event research program, pilots will study how such events can take place without the need for social distancing through other measures such as testing. ‘
The announcement means that the final round of Premier League games will be played in front of the fans, with everything required for the championship, European places and relegation.
The FA Cup final is currently to be played before the deadline. Sportsmail is aware that the FA is aware of the situation, although it is currently unclear whether the game will be postponed.
As Sportsmail reported earlier today, the timing means the Carabao Cup final between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur on April 25 will be missed and will likely be played in front of empty stands at Wembley.
The fans were banned from the stadiums in March and returned shortly before the third ban
In the Prime Minister’s strategy, the rules are relaxed every five weeks. The easings are scheduled for March 8, March 29, April 12, May 17 and June 21
Boris Johnson today unveiled his lockdown exit strategy with rules expected to be lifted from March 8th
Culture Minister Oliver Dowden has campaigned for the safe return of fans
While the roadmap envisages another lifting of restrictions from March 29, it is said to be modest and return the country to small outdoor gatherings of two families or a group of six in April.
Johnson knew he wanted to take a cautious approach to easing restrictions, and it wasn’t until the beginning of step four, June 21 at the earliest, that the number of viewers could go beyond the limits set in step three.
The document states that Step 4 will “allow major events beyond the capacity constraints of Step 3, subject to the outcome of the Scientific Events Research Program”.
Top sport learned a lot from testing events over the past summer, including a friendly game between Bright and Chelsea at the Amex and welcoming fans during the animal system, which allowed up to 4,000 fans to attend events in December.
Football sources say the goal is to be ready whenever the government gives the go-ahead.
Events use learning from previous events that were based on social distancing measures.
This approach can be complemented by the results of the state sports technology and innovation group, which has continued to work on solutions to make the sport even safer.
Previously, as the sport was preparing to increase attendance at events, it was widely expected that additional capacity would be achieved through extensive use of rapid cross-flow testing.
This would allow organizers to identify people who are carrying the virus, even if they don’t have symptoms, and prevent them from attending.
As in the rest of the country, expectations in elite sport have risen and fallen as the pandemic has developed.
Fans were banned from stadiums in March last year when the virus caught on. However, testing events took place over the summer, including a friendly between Brighton and Chelsea at the Amex Stadium. They delivered positive results and showed that the sport can achieve the safe return of some socially distant fans.
At the time, it was hoped that fans would return in greater numbers in the fall and winter. Further tests were planned for October.
With increasing infection rates, these events were canceled. With the introduction of the tier system at the beginning of December, up to 4,000 fans could be admitted to stadiums in tier 1 areas and up to 2,000 in tier 2 areas, but none in tier 3 areas.
However, the rapidly increasing infection rates resulted in the country being subjected to Stage Four restrictions in late December and a full lockdown in early January.
The announcement gives hope for the possibility that ALL Euro 2020 will take place in the UK this summer
UK efforts to host the entire Euro 2020 tournament this summer were reinforced by news that large venues like Wembley will be allowed to host 10,000 fans from May 17th.
As announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson in the House of Commons on Monday afternoon, viewers will be able to participate in sporting events again from mid-May, as the government is gradually pulling back the Covid-19 restrictions. As of May 17, indoor venues may be admitted to a maximum of 1,000 spectators or half their capacity, if that number is lower.
For outdoor events, a maximum of 4,000 fans or half the capacity of a venue is allowed, whichever is lower.
The UK’s offer to host more games at this year’s Euro 2020 tournament was reinforced by news. Large venues like Wembley (pictured) will allow 10,000 spectators to attend events starting May 17
However, the largest stadiums like Wembley allow a maximum of 10,000 fans or a quarter of the capacity, whichever is lower.
It is still not clear which stadiums qualify as these “biggest” venues. It remains to be seen whether test games and Wimbledon, among others, will allow up to 10,000 fans or just 4,000 fans.
If cases in Covid continue to fall, it is possible that all crowd restrictions will be lifted on June 21 as part of the fourth phase of government plans, increasing the possibility that the knockout games could be played in front of larger Wembley crowds .
Wembley will host England’s group stage matches, a round of 16, both the semi-finals and the final of this year’s European Championship, which is currently being played in 12 cities across Europe.
Wembley will host England’s group matches, both the semi-finals and the Euro 2020 finals
It was reported over the weekend that Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden told UEFA that advances in vaccinations in Britain mean the crowds will be back in the stadiums in front of much of Europe.
The Sunday Times said the UK is offering to host the entire European Championship, with the government responding “positively” to the prospect of playing more matches at UEFA’s request.
Hampden Park in Glasgow will also host a number of games at the Euros.
UEFA remains committed to the original schedule for the championship, which has been pushed back 12 months due to the pandemic that sees matches being played in 12 different cities across Europe.
The competition, which takes place from June 11th to July 11th, takes place in London, Glasgow, Dublin, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, St. Petersburg, Bilbao, Munich, Budapest, Baku, Rome and Bucharest.
However, due to the slower progress of vaccination programs in Europe and the complexity of travel restrictions and quarantines for Covid-19, plans for a pan-continental tournament may still change.
May 17th is two days after the FA Cup Final at Wembley. Sportsmail understands that the FA is aware of the situation although at this point it is unclear whether the game will be postponed.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that the largest stadiums like Wembley will allow 10,000 spectators or a quarter of the capacity, whichever is lower.
As Sportsmail said, the timing means that the Carabao Cup final between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur on April 25 will be missed and will likely be played in front of empty stands at Wembley.
The roadmap announced by Johnson provides for a further lifting of the restrictions from March 29. This is said to be modest, however, bringing the country back to small outdoor gatherings of two families or a group of six in April.
Top sport learned a lot from testing events and taking in fans during the animal system last summer, which allowed up to 4,000 fans to attend events in December.
Football sources say the goal is to be ready whenever the government gives the go-ahead.
UEFA plans to host Euro 2020 in 12 different venues across Europe, but the situation has been made difficult by Covid-19 restrictions
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