The government have today confirmed that plans to begin allowing a limited number of spectators into sporting events from October 1st have been halted amid the increasing number of COVID-19 infections.
As restrictions were tightened nationwide, confirmation was given that no fans would be back at football matches anytime soon. It’s news that will be a hammer blow to professional clubs up and down the country and could seriously challenge the ability for some to continue operating.
Cabinet office minister Michael Gove told BBC Breakfast this morning that pilot projects which have allowed some grounds to admit a limited number of supporters already would also be paused.
Gove said: “We were looking at a staged programme of more people returning – it wasn’t going to be the case that we were going to have stadiums thronged with fans,” he said.
“We’re looking at how we can, for the moment, pause that programme, but what we do want to do is to make sure that, as and when circumstances allow, get more people back.
“The virus is less likely to spread outdoors than indoors but again it’s in the nature of major sporting events that there’s a lot of mingling.”
The grim reality of games being played behind-closed-doors for an even longer period of time once again calls into question the EFL’s decision to restart the season after they deemed last season was too tough to finish in the same circumstances.
The less said about Rick Parry and that organisation, the better.
