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Premier League fans will NOT be allowed back in stadiums on October 1 after huge Covid-19 surge, Michael Gove announces
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PREMIER LEAGUE fans will NOT return to stadiums on October 1 following a huge Covid-19 surge, Michael Gove has announced.
The Government in August revealed they hoped to bring back live crowds at a limited capacity by the start of next month.
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Pre-season friendlies and other sports had trialled 'pilot events' with the expectation of a full roll-out in October.
EFL matches last weekend had 1,000 fans in attendance.
But plans had already been placed under review this month after a rise in coronavirus cases.
The UK's Covid-19 alert level has now moved to 4, meaning transmission is 'high or rising exponentially'.
As a result it blocks the Premier League's hopes of having fans return to stadiums, Cabinet Office minister Mr Gove told the BBC.
He said: “We’ve been piloting some open air venues and we do want to be able in due course to allow people to return to watch football and other sporting events.
"We need to be cautious at the moment and I think a mass reopening at this stage wouldn’t be appropriate."
New measures will be set out by Prime Minister Boris Johnson this evening at 8pm.
Clubs were due to let in a quarter of their stadium’s capacity from October 1 under plans to socially distance fans.
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But last month it was revealed Downing Street put the plans on hold after government scientists deemed the prevalence of the virus was too high to let fans back so soon.
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden had suggested Christmas was now a more realistic target to getting fans back in any significant numbers.
According to , Premier League futures can be expected to resume behind closed doors well into next year, with over £100million revenue due to be lost EACH MONTH.
Journalist Dan Roan tweeted: Don’t think this is a short term ‘pause’ either.
"I’m hearing sports are to be asked by govt what impact will be of no fans for SEVERAL MONTHS.
"All signs are that action will continue behind closed doors well into next year. Prem League says £100m / month will be lost across game."
It comes after No10 introduced the new rule of six - restricting the amount of people who can meet in their homes or in a public place.
Mr Gove also urged Brits to once again work from home where possible.
He said on Sky News: "If it is possible for people to work from home then we would encourage them to do so.
"It's important to stress that there are many, many, many roles that can't be performed from home... there are people in manufacturing, construction, retail and other roles... we recognise it is simply impossible.
"That's why we have worked to ensure you can have Covid-secure workplaces.
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"We need to balance the need for people to work and continue to go to school against taking steps to try and reduce the virus."
He continued: "If we can encourage people to work from home, we will, but if people need to be in the office, we will work to make it as safe as possible."
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