Semi-professional clubs to be allowed limited fans

Semi-professional non-league football clubs will be permitted limited crowds next season following fears that they faced permanent closure if forced to play behind closed doors.

Although grass-roots leagues were already able to begin their seasons next month provided that social distancing was followed off the pitch, those clubs immediately below the Premier League, Football League and National League feared they could be grouped with the professional game in terms of whether fans could return. A group of MPS, which included former sports minister Tracey Crouch, had written to the Government to urge them to allow supporters back at a lower level.

It is understood that the Football Association’s proposal for steps three to six of the pyramid to have crowds at 15 per cent of capacity, but potentially rising to 30 per cent, has been accepted.

Sports minister Nigel Huddleston said last night that some fans could return “with social distancing” below the National League and the full detail will be confirmed today by the Football Association.

The Premier League, Football League and National League are still working on proposals for the limited return of fans, potentially in October.

In the letter, signed by more than 30 MPS, the need for an urgent decision ahead of a potential September restart was stressed. Most clubs at a non-league level are not sustainable without fans.

The MPS warned that clubs “at the heart of our constituencies” could be “lost forever” without drawing a distinction between the semi-professional game and clubs in the Football League and the Premier League.