Fans shut out AGAIN
NEW COVID RESTRICTIONS MEAN ONLY LIVERPOOL AND EVERTON CAN BE CHEERED ON BY HOME SUPPORTERS IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE
EVERTON and Liverpool are the only Premier League clubs still allowed fans from Boxing Day after coronavirus restrictions were tightened yesterday.
Of the 92 clubs over the four English divisions, only 10 will now be allowed to admit fans.
Half of the top flight was given permission to allow in up to 2,000 00 supporters when n Covid- 19 rules were eased on December 2.
But stricter rules introduced last weekend left only four teams with that advantage – and now Brighton and Southampton have been moved into Tier 4, which forbids fans.
The only Premier League games to have a crowd over the Christmas period will be Liverpool at home to West Brom on Sunday and Everton’s home clash with Manchester City the following day. There are now just eight clubs in the Football League in Tier 2, which still allows fans – Bournemouth, Plymouth, Shrewsbury, Barrow, Carlisle, Exeter, Harrogate and Tranmere.
Peterborough chairman Darragh MacAnthony ( below) attacked the Government restrictions on football – and called for help for Football League clubs.
“The safest place is being out outdoors, spaced out where you are breathing fresh air as opposed to being stuffed indoors or in shopping p malls,” said the Posh chairman. “All of this ‘Follow the Science’ business is so contradictory when you see what has happened. The Government have done nothing but shut us down and restrain us.
“The Government, for me, have washed their hands of it and just ignored it. I am not going to get political but they don’t care. They don’t care about the EFL.”
Rotherham and Portsmouth announced the cancellation of fixtures yesterday because of coronavirus outbreaks.
The Millers’ home match with Derby last weekend was called off and now their Boxing Day tr i p to Middlesbrough has gone.
Rotherham said: “We have reluctantly – but with the safety of our players and staff at the forefront of our minds – informed the EFL and our opp o n e n t s , Middlesbrough, that we will be unable to fulfil our Boxing Day fixture.” League One leaders Portsmouth have called off a home game with Swindon and the fixture at Bristol Rovers on December 29 after five confirmed cases of Covid-19, including their defender Jack Whatmough.
Ipswich, Bristol Rovers, Millwall and Sunderland have already called off matches because of Covid this month.