By Oyinlola Awonuga (The New Diplomat’s Entertainment, Fashion and Sports Desk)
Fans will be able to return to football grounds from December 2 as Prime Minister Boris Johnson prepared to confirm new coronavirus measures on Monday.
Premier League and Football League matches have been behind closed doors since the outbreak of the virus in the UK in March.
Going by the rule, only supporters from areas with Tier 1 and Tier 2 restrictions would be able to attend as those based in Tier 3 zones will continue to be shut out.
According to the Mirror, there would also be significant guidelines and protocols in place for stadiums when they reopen next month.
Clubs will only be allowed to welcome either 50 per cent of their capacity back into their stadium, or a maximum of 4,000 people – whichever number is smaller.
Clubs in Tier 2 areas are able to hold a maximum of 2,000 fans. But of the Premier League sides, only Brighton and Southampton – both of whom are in Tier 1 – will be given the green light to reach their maximum.
Additional agency reports indicate that social distancing guidelines would be strictly adhered to as well to avoid a relapse into the era of cOVID-19 pandemic surge.
Similar restrictions are also expected to be put in place at theatres and concert halls in the UK.
Going by this development, test events have already been held by some clubs successfully in the summer.
The news is a welcome boost to clubs, particularly those in the lower divisions, who rely heavily on gate receipts as a main source of income.
