PREMIER LEAGUE fans will be allowed back in stadiums THIS season.
PM Boris Johnson will confirm turnstiles will be reopened from May 17 after being closed since December.
Premier League fans will be allowed to see their team’s last game of the seasonCredit: Rex Features
These are the final day fixturesCredit: Premier League
That would mean the last round of fixtures could see up to 10,000 supporters or 25 per cent of capacity, whichever is the smaller back in grounds.
It would also mean good news for the rest of the EFL, with fans allowed in for the play-off finals.
The Championship, League One and League Two games are scheduled to take place on the weekend of May 29 – with 90,000-capacity Wembley the usual venue.
Small numbers of fans were briefly allowed back in grounds in December but after a steep spike in coronavirus cases in the UK, matches were forced back behind closed doors.
But now there is hope, albeit on the very last day of the Premier League season.
The league’s chief executive Richard Masters has previous said the economic cost of not allowing fans in ‘has been significant and hard to deal with’.
Boris will also announce indoor arenas will be able to welcome back either 1,000 fans or hold events with half full capacity, whichever is smaller
Boris Johnson is set to announce his roadmap for the UK to come out of the coronavirus lockdown at 3.30pm to the House of Commons.
Boris Johnson will present his plan to the Commons, and then speak to the public this eveningCredit: Getty – Pool
The PM will then appear on national TV to speak to the nation who are deseprate for a move as close to normal as possible.
The news opens the prospect of supporters being in seats for the seven Euro 2020 games due to be played at Wembley as well as Wimbledon.
The could even the prospect of a 90,000 full house for the Euro 2020 Final on July 12.
It would also allow race fans for the Epsom Derby and Royal Ascot in June.
And supporters will get the chance to watch the England v India Test series and the Open Championships at Royal St George’s.
While the May 17 date comes two days too late for the FA Cup Final, Wembley beaks do need to hold step test events prior to the Euros to ensure they are able to operate with any protocol requirements.
The FA has to hand over Wembley to Uefa after the EFL play-offs finish on May 31 but would be open to using the FA Cup Final as part of that testing process if the Government is willing to allow it, which seems likely.
However, that would see much smaller crowds of maybe only 2,000 or so initially.
More to follow…
