Football Fans' Petition Dismissed By Government

Empty stadiumThe Government has dismissed a petition that had been set up to try and find a way to allow football fans to return to stadiums safely amid the pandemic.

A petition urging the Government to "allow football fans to attend matches at all levels" has failed to overturn the ban on crowds at elite sporting events in England due to the coronavirus pandemic.

With supporters having been unable to attend football matches in England since mid-March, calls have been growing to allow them to return in a safe capacity, with an online petition having recently been set-up attracting over 190,000 signatures within hours. However, the petition has failed to overturn the Government's decision.



The Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport [DCMS] has promised to review it at "the earliest opportunity" in response to the petition being lodged with the Parliament website back in September.

It was announced that the petition would be debated in Parliament on November 9th but prior to that debate, the DCMS has said: "We will take the earliest opportunity to look again at getting spectators safely back into stadia but this must be clearly done carefully against the prevailing health conditions.

"Football clubs form the bedrock of our communities and play a vital role in the local economy. Their importance has been clearly demonstrated throughout the pandemic with clubs at all levels providing incredible support to their area.

"That is why the Government is committed to supporting sports clubs up and down the country, with many football clubs benefiting from the Government's unprecedented financial support to businesses.

"The Government is fully aware of the importance of getting spectators back into stadia for many sports, and the financial consequences of the decision not to allow this from October 1st. The evidence received from the Chief Medical Officer was very clear that at a time of rapidly rising infections, and when the Government was considering restrictions elsewhere, it was not the right time to undertake any further easements.

"We will continue to work closely with a whole range of sports to understand the latest thinking that might allow spectators to return. This includes the creation of a new Sports Technology Innovation Working Group of sporting bodies and health experts to analyse new technologies which might support this. This will supplement the draft government guidance, and the SGSA supplementary guidance to their Green Guide, which has been internationally welcomed.

"We are committed to getting spectators back into stadia as soon as it is safe to do so."

Following a series of test events over the summer, it was hoped that supporters, certainly in some capacity, would be allowed to return to matches in early October. However, a recent increase in case numbers of

Covid-19 has meant that those plans were put on hold, once again leaving football supporters with no idea as to when they will get to see their teams in action at the highest level.

Some supporters have been allowed to return at non-league level with no data suggesting any correlation to increases in Covid-positive cases. However, the survival of many clubs is reliant upon their matchday revenues and along with fans they are naturally frustrated when so many resources and essential finances have been provided in order to ensure safe environments for limited numbers of fans to return to outdoor stadia. Particularly whilst demanding social distancing and successfully being able to ensure this, whilst many indoor events seem to be encouraged where social distancing can barely be maintained. Several members of the government, including the Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden, have admitted inconsistencies in the rules.