The Return Of Football Fans Into Stadiums To Be Debated In Parliament On November 9th

The Return Of Football Fans Into Stadiums To Be Debated In Parliament On November 9thParliament will hold a debate next month over whether to allow football fans to attend elite level matches after a petition calling for a return for supporters to grounds across the country received more than 196,000 signatures in an extremely short space of time.

The Government paused its plans for the partial return of fans to stadiums last month because of a rapid spike in coronavirus cases, with the warning it could be six months before spectators can return to sports venues but sports supporters and governing bodies have criticised the continued ban, particularly when test events have been so successful. There is no evidence that the ramping up of pilot test events at stadia has led to any increased positive cases of coronavirus, although it has been evident that there do appear to be serious flaws with the current track and trace system.



Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden told MPs on Wednesday that his Government are "doing things that are positively hateful, but the reason we are doing it is to secure public safety". However he accepted there has been "inconsistency" particularly after spectators were allowed into the enclosed London Palladium theatre for an event with former Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger, in seemingly much closer proximity than seemingly safer outdoor arenas.

Many clubs fear they are on the brink of financial collapse unless turnstiles reopen or a bailout is agreed. The EFL is discussing a £50m rescue package offered by the Premier League to League One and League Two clubs today.