Fans will be locked out until Christmas

FOOTBALL fans face being locked out of games until Christmas.

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden has revealed supporters can’t be let into stadia until coronavirus infection rates start to fall dramatically.

Dowden yesterday insisted he wants fans back watching live games as quickly as possible and that a plan is “ready to go” with Premier League and EFL clubs.

But bringing fans back would be classed as “an easement” of restrictions at a time when the Government is tightening rules on meetings, pubs and restaurants in many parts of the country.

Dowden, who was quizzed by the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee yesterday, said: “Because of the rising rate of infection it has not been possible to have that easement.

“The very clear advice from the scientific community at this time of rapidly rising infections is that we should be imposing restrictions.

“We had sports on a path to return to normality. We were one of the first in the world to achieve football back and being played behind closed doors.

“The next phase was pilot games with socially distanced spectators in stadia, which worked well. We were ready to go. They were successful. We were ready from October 1.

“We had to pause it because of the rapid expansion of the disease. We’d be increasing social interaction while imposing further restrictions.

“I want to rapidly return to this decision. We are ready to go when we get the starting gun fired.

“We got the Premier League and Championship up and running early on and got money eybac back in the sport.”