The Premier League has made it clear it hopes to see more fans back in stadiums having been given the green light for supporters to return to grounds from next week.
The government on Monday announced that up to 4,000 spectators will be allowed at outdoor sporting events in tier 1 areas when lockdown ends on December 2 – news greeted with huge joy.
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But Premier League clubs are worried about the financial impact of allowing only 4,000 fans – or fewer, in higher-risk areas – as many operate at a break-even figure of at least 10,000 ticket sales.
And, according to the Daily Mail, some clubs could REJECT the opportunity to bring fans back next month as it could be considered uneconomic.
The Premier League made clear its concerns and asked for the government to continue working towards an eventual increase of attendance levels.
A statement read: “Fans have been greatly missed at Premier League matches and therefore we welcome the Prime Minister’s announcement regarding the return of supporters for the first time since March, albeit in small numbers.
“Our ambition remains to work with Government to increase attendance to more substantial levels. Until this can be done, many fans will be unable to attend games and our clubs will continue to operate matches at a loss.”
The league is also said to be concerned at the lack of a roadmap which details the move towards increasing capacities over time.
The statement continued: “Our priority continues to be the agreement of a roadmap, with DCMS and the Sports Technology and Innovation Group, for pilot events that can help our clubs quickly scale up to larger capacities in line with the Sports Ground Safety Authority’s Covid-secure guidelines and beyond.
How the tier system will affect fans returning
TIER 1
- 4,000 spectators or 50 per cent capacity (whichever is lower) for outdoor events
- 2,000 spectators or 50 per cent capacity (whichever is lower) for indoor events
TIER 2
- 2,000 spectators or 50 per cent capacity (whichever is lower) for outdoor events
- 1,000 spectators or 50 per cent capacity (whichever is lower) for indoor events
TIER 3
- No spectators allowed
“Premier League clubs have a proven track record of achieving high-biosecurity standards and we believe we can play a significant role in the Government’s rapid turnaround testing initiative.”
Clubs will reportedly confirm their individual positions on the return of fans once the government details the regional tier system for the post-lockdown period, as different tiers have different maximum fan limits.
Manchester United, who could play the first football match with fans when they face PSG in the Champions League on December 2, published a statement on Monday reacting to the return of spectators.
“We welcome today’s announcement from the Government and we reiterate that we are ready to welcome fans back to Old Trafford, as soon as it is safe to do so,” read the statement.
“We will now work through the detail of the plan with the relevant authorities and await the announcement on the local restriction levels.”
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