The Premier League hope to see up to 10,000 fans return for the final two rounds of fixtures in the 2020/21 season.
Matches have largely been played behind closed doors for the last 12 months.
There was a brief period at the end of last year where a limited number of supporters were allowed back, but that was quickly shelved amid a rise in coronavirus cases, hospitalisations and deaths.
Fans are set to be allowed to return to sporting events from May 17 as part of the government’s four-step road map out of lockdown.
The final round of Premier League fixtures are set to played on May 23, but another round of games could be moved to May 18-20.
This is to ensure fairness that each of the 20 teams would get one game in front of home fans.
“The government’s road map is really welcome, it sets out a plan for the return of supporters,” said Premier League chief executive Richard Masters.
“Hopefully the final two of the fixtures of our season will have up to 10,000 supporters in them all.
“We have got to get past those first initial steps in the road map to get there but it will be a fantastic finale to the end of our season.”
The Premier League is then hopeful for stadiums to be full by the start of next season.
Masters added: “First step is to see that trophy presented on May 23, hopefully in front of 10,000 fans somewhere in this country. Beyond that is full stadia by the beginning of next season.
“There is a lot of water to pass under the bridge until that can happen, but that is our goal. A return to full, vibrant stadiums, a return to the normal Premier League.
“We have got to get through step one to step four in the road map and look at the national picture and work with the government to create the conditions for that to happen. We believe it is an achievable goal.
“The vaccination programme is the light at the end of the tunnel. It’s the thing that changes everything, from being controlled by the virus to controlling it, and returning to normality.
“If the vaccination programme works in the way the government wants it to, it will bring the return of stadium, theatres, cinemas and ticketed events generally.”
from Football - news, transfers, fixtures, scores, pictures https://ift.tt/2PPC9GP
via IFTTT
No Comment