CHEER WE GO AGAIN

UP TO 4,000 SPECTATORS ALLOWED BACK IN SOME STADIUMS FROM NEXT WEEK WHEN TIERED SYSTEM REPLACES LOCKDOWN

SPECTATORS are set to return to football grounds and other sports venues as early as next week as part of a new easing of coronavirus measures announced by the prime minister yesterday.

Boris Johnson outlined plans to reintroduced a tiered system of restrictions to replace England’s national lockdown on December 2, with venues in tier one and two areas of the country allowed to admit a limited number of fans.

The news is a huge boost to professional sports teams up and down the country who have been without their main income stream since the start of the coronavirus pandemic in March.

There were a small number of pilot schemes in September and spectators had been due to return in limited numbers from October 1 but the government paused that decision due to a rise in infections.

The prime minister said in a statement to the House of Commons: ‘Spectator sports and business events will be free to resume inside and outside with capacity limits and social distancing, providing more consistency with indoor performances in theatres and concert halls.’

He did not confirm the capacity limits or percentages, but culture Secretary Oliver Dowden later outlined in a tweet that 4,000 spectators or 50 per cent capacity limits – whichever is lowest – would be in place in tier one, dropping to 2,000 or 50 per cent for indoor venues, while in tier two it will be 2,000 outdoors and 1,000 indoors, or 50 per cent capacity. Clubs operating in areas placed in tier three will not be able to host spectators.

A decision on what areas will be placed in each tier is expected on Thursday.

In a statement, Dowden said: ‘I’m delighted we are able to get the turnstiles turning sooner than expected, taking a cautious approach and starting with the lowest risk areas first.

‘I’m confident that sports will take every step to ensure their fans are safe, and fans will play their part and look out for each other until we can safely get everyone back in.’

Many clubs in the English Football League have suffered severe financial difficulties with fans locked out and the EFL last night welcomed the prospect of the gates reopening next month.

‘It is an important step in achieving a return to normal, alongside it being crucial to addressing the significant revenue gap left by a lack of spectators and other revenue streams as a result of the pandemic,’ said a statement.