Roadmap To Relaunch Sports
Fans are set to return to sporting events from Monday, May 17th as Prime Minister Boris Johnson outlined his road map for easing coronavirus lockdown restrictions.
The Prime Minister has revealed plans in the House of Commons to ease restrictions step-by-step across the whole country simultaneously instead of on a regional basis.
From May 17th, indoor events will be capped at 50 per cent capacity or 1,000, whichever is lower, and for outdoor events this will be 50 per cent capacity or 4,000, whichever is lower.
Larger outdoor seated venues such as football stadiums will be allowed up to a maximum of 10,000 spectators.
The proposals rule out the possibility of fans attending any further regular-season matches in the EFL, but it would mean the final weekend of the Premier League season, set to be played on Sunday, May 23rd, could potentially be played in front of a limited number of fans.
Although the FA Cup final is set to be played on Saturday, May 15th - two days before the initial plans to allow fans to return, it could be utilised as an all-important test event to highlight the safety measures in place.
It is hoped to have one-third of Wembley full of spectators by the time the finals are played, in late April and mid-May, providing it is then safe to do so.
The EFL has already moved the date for the Carabao Cup final from February 28th to April 25th to give it the best chance of having supporters inside Wembley.
Both finals have been identified as key milestones for the wider game, and - crucially - ahead of this summer's Euros.
And with Wembley set to host seven matches at this summer's delayed Euro 2020, including all three of England's group games, a last-16 tie, both semi-finals and the final, Monday's announcement is seen as a positive step for fans to attend.
The proposals also leave open the possibility of spectators returning over the summer for Wimbledon, Royal Ascot, the British Grand Prix and cricket internationals and county matches, depending on whether the conditions for easing restrictions have been met by May 17th.
