Return of fans to SoL delayed due torestrictions

The return of supporters to the Stadium of Light has been delayed, after confirmation that Sunderland will face the toughest restrictions after the national lockdown.

The government sprung a surprise last week when they announced that stadiums would be allowed to welcome a limited number of fans from December 2.

However, with the entire North East set to enter tier three next week, this will mean that games as the Stadium of Light will continue to take place behind closed doors.

Areas facing tier restrictions will be allowed to welcome 2,000 fans back to the grounds, or 50% of capacity.

Areas facing tier one restrictions will be allowed 4,000 fans, though only Cornwall, the Isle of Wight and the Isles of Scilly have been placed in this tier.

The tier decisions will be reviewed every 14 days.

Sunderland have been vocal supporters of the campaign to bring supporters back into grounds, with CEO Jim Rodwell saying earlier this season that they had prepared plans for the return of up to 11,000 supporters, many of whom had registered their matchday bubbles in anticipation.

“It’s soul destroying for those people who worked so hard to put us in the position to potentially bring fans back," he said in October.

"We, as football, are convinced that we can safely have fans in the stadium.

“We had pilot events that went incredibly well, we were ready and able before the rug was pulled from underneath us. I think the hardest thing to accept about that was the lack of rationale.”