More Fans To Return To Stadiums As Pilot Scheme Continues

Spectators will be permitted at some sports grounds this weekend as part of the ongoing government pilot scheme to bring fans back into stadiums.

The news comes after discussions between the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Oliver Dowden, and sports leagues and federations, as tighter restrictions have come into place across the UK designed to limit the spread of the virus.

The pilot scheme, however, had envisaged events going ahead with spectators across August and September, subject to social distancing measures approved by the Sports Grounds Safety Authority and local safety advisory groups. 

The events will include two Premiership Rugby matches taking place at The Recreation Ground in Bath on 22nd September and at Ashton Gate on 30th September. Up to 1,000 spectators will be admitted to each match, subject to local safety advisory group approval, while the matches will also be screened live on BT Sport. 

Meanwhile, ten EFL games throughout the Championship, League One and League Two will take place, with crowds also capped at 1,000. 

The news follows successful pilots staged by both leagues last weekend, when Cambridge United hosted Carlisle in a League Two match, while Harlequins hosted Premiership Rugby’s first match with spectators on 5th September, against Bath Rugby. Both matches saw fans in attendance at professional matches in their respective leagues for the first time since March.

A joint statement from the Premier League, British Horseracing, EFL, ECB, The FA, LTA, RFL and RFU said: “We are grateful to Oliver Dowden, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport in the United Kingdom, for taking the time to discuss with us the financial impact that COVID-19 is having on the sports sector and issues around the partial return of fans to sports events which is currently under review by the Government. It was a constructive and productive meeting.

“All of our organisations are committed to public safety. We conveyed to the Secretary of State the very serious financial situation now facing our sports, clubs and venues and that we believe we can stage events safely.

“It is clear that if fans cannot return soon that there will be very serious economic implications across our sporting sector.

“Our sports have already demonstrated through staging fixtures Behind Closed Doors, in Test events and through the return of recreational sport that we can deliver the very highest standards in safety and best practice.”

Darren Childs, CEO, Premiership Rugby, added: “We are delighted that following the success of the first two ‘pilot’ matches at the Twickenham Stoop and Kingsholm, another two Gallagher Premiership Rugby matches have been given the green light from the government. This is testament to the magnificent job done by the teams at both Harlequins and Gloucester Rugby.

“We saw in those matches how important it is for spectators to be present at live sport and we value the trust that the government have placed in us for additional pilot games. The health and safety of everyone involved in Premiership Rugby is our only priority as we bring the sport back from Lockdown and that was evident at Kingsholm and the Twickenham Stoop. We are pleased to be able to look to build on that success.”

EFL Chair, Rick Parry said: “It’s encouraging that we are in a position to move forward with the next phase of the pilot programme and give a small number of our Clubs the opportunity to welcome back up to a 1,000 fans this week.

“The health and well-being of supporters and their wider communities remains the priority, but as we showed at Cambridge, social distancing can be applied safely. By extending across more EFL Clubs we hope to further demonstrate that the measures developed can allow fans to return in greater numbers from as early as next month.

“The requirement to welcome spectators back through turnstiles has not diminished in any way, the financial challenges facing EFL Clubs have been explained on numerous occasions, they are substantial and a problem that requires immediate solutions.”

Discussions continue between the UK’s sport leagues, governing bodies and the government about a return for supporters in greater numbers after 1st October. 

Culture Secretary, Oliver Dowden said: “I know that many fans are eager to return to football and that jobs depend on this too, so fans will welcome news that the EFL will be running number capped, covid secure, and socially distanced pilots this weekend. This will help us build the evidence base to see how we can return fans safely in greater numbers as soon as it is safe to do so.”