TOP FLIGHT WANT FANS BACK IN FOR LAST TWO WEEKS

THE Premier league are lobbying the Government for permission to stage two rounds of matches with a stadium capacity of 25 per cent in May without the need for prior test events.

Clubs have indicated their desire to push the fixtures scheduled for the penultimate weekend of the season back a few days until after May 17. By that time it is hoped the country will enter step three of the Government’s post-lockdown roadmap, at which point crowds of 10,000 or 25 per cent capacity will be permitted at sporting venues.

a series of test events are due to be held at a mixture of venues in april and May, but the clubs aree arguing they do not needed to stage dress rehearsals as the majority welcomed up to 2,000 fans back without problems when the tier system was in operation earlier in the season.

While talks remain ongoing, the Government are understood to be receptive and will not insist on every club holding a test event before May 17. Instead, a handful of tests at a range of venues will take place across sport, with the Carabao Cup final at Wembley on april 25 initially earmarked for football, although that has yet to be confirmed. Moving the penultimate round rou of fixtures back would enable every club to have one game with fans in attendance, which is seen as important for preserving the Premier league’s integrity, in particularly as crucial issues such as relegation and European qualification could be determined in those matches.

As Sportsmail reported last week, round 36 of the Premier league would also have to be put back to the weekend of May 15 and 16 to facilitate the switch, as the broadcasters will not accept a blank weekend.