Fratton Park will be open to all when fans return

POMPEY have ‘no plans to exclude anyone’ from Fratton Park once fans are allowed back.

That’s according to the club’s chief commercial officer Anna Mitchell, who said the Blues could potentially welcome up to 4,000 fans back into the stands for any League One play-off semi-final.

Fans returning to grounds has been at the forefront of clubs’ minds amid falling coronavirus rates and a successful vaccination programme.

This week it was announced that both Tottenham and Manchester City will have 2,000 spectators at Wembley for the Carabao Cup final on Sunday, April 25 as part of a test event.

But supporters under 18 cannot attend, and people who are clinically extremely vulnerable or pregnant have also been told not to apply for tickets.

Further guidelines are also attached, including fans having to take a lateral flow coronavirus test at a designated site – not at home – in the 24 hours before the game.

They must bring proof of a negative result, either a text or an email.

There’s the potential Pompey could welcome back fans for the play-offs – if they claim a top-six finish.

Blues supporters could also attend any subsequent final at Wembley.

And when asked at the latest Tony Goodall Fans’ Conference if the Blues would adopt a similar approach to that rolled out for the Carabao Cup final, Mitchell stated: ‘As a club, we don’t have any plans to exclude anyone.’

No follow-up question was put forward regarding lateral flow tests prior to entry.