Sports clubs and associations in England are facing up to the bleak prospect of six further months without spectators after plans for a fans' return next month were scrapped.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson told the House of Commons that the Government could not go ahead with the planned reopening of venues on a socially-distanced basis from October 1 due to a second wave of coronavirus infections. The plan would have seen venues capped at between 25 and 35 per cent of capacity.
He suggested the measures introduced on Tuesday would remain in place for "perhaps six months", making it almost certain that the sports sector will need some financial support from the Government to prevent an unprecedented loss of professional and grassroots clubs from the landscape.
Two Premiership Rugby matches – Bath v Gloucester on Tuesday night and Bristol v Leicester next week – will now be played behind closed doors, as will a race meeting at Newmarket later this week.
Internationally, the Rugby Football Union faces a grim autumn and winter without spectators at Twickenham for the autumn internationals and the Six Nations. The Football Association had been hoping to welcome supporters in for England's friendly against Wales next month.
DCMS confirmed that clubs at the seventh tier of the football pyramid and below will still be able to admit spectators, provided venues are Covid-secure.
