Return of fans could be limited to 1,000 per match
Martyn Ziegler, Chief Sports Reporter
Tuesday September 15 2020, 12.00am, The Times
The number of fans allowed into sporting events after October 1 may be restricted to between 1,000 and 2,500 if the government decides the coronavirus infection rate is too high to allow stadiums to be up to one-third full.
Senior figures in football have told The Times that talks have taken place over resorting to such a plan if the original timescale has to be changed, although such a limit would be strongly opposed by Premier League clubs, who claim that safe measures are already in place for a larger-scale return of fans.
The option is one of several set to be discussed this week at a meeting of sports leaders with Oliver Dowden, the secretary of state for digital, culture, media and sport. Allowing a further-reduced number of spectators would ease fears about the risk of transmission of the virus on public transport and in pubs before and after matches. It would also provide ticket money for clubs in Leagues One and Two.
Whitehall insiders say there is still an aim to get as many fans as possible into stadiums from October 1, but that they will have to be guided by Public Health England. A decision must be taken soon as the RFU needs to start selling tickets for the autumn internationals at Twickenham, as does the FA for England matches against Wales, Belgium and Denmark at Wembley next month.
Top-flight clubs reacted angrily to the government announcing last week that pilot events would be limited to 1,000 supporters, claiming that they had measures in place to allow fans to return safely, and said they would not take part in any such events until more fans are allowed. It is understood that Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa are particularly unhappy.
The EFL, however, will push ahead with pilot events. Queens Park Rangers v Middlesbrough, on September 26, could be one match at which 1,000 fans are present.
w12stag wrote:No chance Orient v Stags on Saturday then for my annual w12/e10 pilgrimage? Shame
part time pete wrote:Had the Stags applied to have any of these events.
Martin Shaw wrote:part time pete wrote:Had the Stags applied to have any of these events.
I think David Sharpe suggested we did/would for the previous round, in his interview on iFollow.
For this round, we are not at home.
The One wrote:Daily Mail states private testing company in talks, test all before game charging 15 quid
no capacity limit !!
The One wrote:Daily Mail states private testing company in talks, test all before game charging 15 quid
no capacity limit !!
STAGS FOR LIFE wrote:The One wrote:Daily Mail states private testing company in talks, test all before game charging 15 quid
no capacity limit !!
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footb ... games.html
Dan wrote:Let people in but tell them they must always wear a mask until they get back to their vehicles. I’m sure even those who are against wearing one (or who think they’re better than anyone else) would wear one if they got to see their club play ‘live’.
arsene wengers coat wrote:Just so I understand.
I can't meet more than 5 people in a public space, but I can go to a public place with 999 other people if I'm watching football.
Seems eminently sensible. :/
BH_Stag wrote:Dan wrote:Let people in but tell them they must always wear a mask until they get back to their vehicles. I’m sure even those who are against wearing one (or who think they’re better than anyone else) would wear one if they got to see their club play ‘live’.
With proposed capacity restrictions of 25% or whatever I don’t think there’ll be a need to wear a mask when sat in your seat watching the game. Nobody on the row in front or behind and a few seats spare either side, as well as it being outside mitigates risk a lot in my opinion. I think wearing one in the queue, in the concourse areas/toilets, and making your way to your seat would be sufficient, but I suppose everybody has their own viewpoint on it!
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