SW19 lifts its football ban

IF you can’t beat them, join them. Wimbledon chiefs yesterday said ticket-holders will be allowed to watch England football matches on their smartphones at courtside.

In a significant relaxation of its rules, the All England Lawn Tennis Club said spectators could even cheer on Gareth Southgate’s team.

Centre Court was only a third full on Saturday when droves of fans left the arena to watch England’s victory over Sweden. Four thousand spectators fled in search of pubs, while others huddled around screens within the grounds. The club has now said spectators will be allowed to watch the World Cup semi-final against Croatia tomorrow while sitting just yards from players competing on court. The same policy will be extended to the final on Sunday. Wimbledon rules state that mobile phones, tablets and other electronic devices ‘must be switched off in and around the courts in play’. Richard Lewis, chief executive of the All England Club, yesterday said modern technology allowed spectators to watch both sports simultaneously without causing widespread disturbance.

‘It is not unheard of for there to be a ripple of applause or a shout when something special happens in a football tournament,’ he said. ‘Wimbledon has been like that for many years.’

The men’s final starts at 2pm, with the World Cup final at 4pm.