FA and government slammed over Cup rules for fans
MOVE COULD IMPACT GTFC AND OTHER EFL CLUBS
THE FA and the Government have been criticised after publishing rules for crowds attending FA Cup second round qualifying matches this weekend.
With ‘elite’ National League North and South sides entering the competition and plenty facing non-elite teams, there were question marks over whether fans would be able to attend matches.
All three National League divisions look set to kick-off behind closed doors after being classified as elite at the end of last season in order to hold play-off matches.
With fans allowed at non-elite levels - the leagues below the National League North and South and below - there was speculation that fans of elite clubs could see their team in action against non-elite clubs. Yet the FA have revealed this is not the case.
Matches between two elite clubs will be held behind closed doors, as will games where an elite club is playing host to a nonelite side.
If a non-elite club is hosting an elite side, then only home fans will be able to attend the game.
If two non-elite clubs meet, then home and away fans will be permitted to attend.
The news also hands a blow to any fans of League One and League Two clubs who were holding out hope that they may be able to attend should their team be drawn against non-elite sides in the opening proper rounds of the FA Cup. Isthmian Premier League side Corinthian Casuals hit out at the news on their website.
The historic club are set to host well-supported National League side Dulwich Hamlet this weekend and issued a statement dripping in sarcasm after the announcement.
They said: “As the coronavirus is clearly clever enough to differentiate between supporters of Step two and three clubs, in their wisdom, supporters of National League clubs – which include Dulwich Hamlet – are banned from spectating. “We have held back on the sale of tickets for the time being but will unfortunately have to limit these to Corinthian Casuals and neutral supporters only. “Please do not purchase tickets if you are a supporter of Dulwich Hamlet. as both clubs have to adhere to these rules (we cannot believe we’ve had to type that). “We’d like to place on record that as a club, we are not in favour of this utterly baffling ruling, we believe it is wholly unnecessary and we are having to put in place these restrictions under duress.”