More Details On Sports Pilot Events Announced

More Details On Sports Pilot Events Announced One of the FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley, either on 17 or 18 April, will be among sports ‘pilot events’ to trial the return of large crowds to UK venues.

The Final of the FA Cup and the World Snooker Championship in Sheffield are also on the schedule.

Oliver Dowden, Sports Minister, is know to want to get as many supporters back as safely as possible and also keen to have more ‘pilot events’ subject to the next stage of the government ‘roadmap’ being on track for 12 April.

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The following stage, scheduled for 17 May, would allow stadia to open with a 25% capacity limit, up to a maximum of 10,000 spectators.

These ‘pilot schemes’ will help to establish a format for a controlled, safe and secure system allowing the return of fans to venues.

The venues will have to prove compliance to measures such as the implementation of the ‘one-way systems’, correct ventilation within stadia, social distancing and behaviour controls are in place together with procedures in terms of fans navigating their way to and from venues.

It is expected that 4,000 spectators will attend one of the Wembley semi-finals and the following weekend the Carabao Cup final could test an attendance of double that.

The possibility of having 20,000 fans at the FA Cup final on 15 May is being explored by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and the Football Association and would also need to be agreed with Brent Council.