Boris Johnson Confirms Fans Attending Sporting Events In England From October To Be Reviewed

Plans for spectators to attend sporting events in England from October 1st are to be reviewed, the Prime Minister has stated, due to the increased number of Covid-19 cases in the country.

Johnson, speaking at a Downing Street news conference, also said pilot events in September would be restricted to 1,000 fans with social distancing measures in place.

“We must revise plans to pilot larger audiences in venues later this month and review our intention to return audiences to stadiums from 1 October," said Johnson.

"But that doesn't mean we are going to scrap the programme entirely. We are just going to have to review it and abridge it."

At the end of August, just over 2,500 people safely and albeit successfully watched a friendly between Brighton and Chelsea at the Seagulls' Amex Stadium, the first time fans had been allowed into a Premier League ground in almost six months. With around 300 spectators allowed to watch last month’s World Snooker Championship Final at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.

Despite those and several other pilots seemingly taking place successfully the increase in cases in certain areas of the country has led to the Government reviewing further plans. It will strike as a real blow to stadia around the country whose preparations were gathering place with anticipation increasing that spectator returns wouldn’t be too far away.