The planned return of spectators to stadiums in England from October 1 has been called off and could be on hold for another six months due to fears over a second wave of coronavirus infections.
The plan was initially placed under review earlier this month after a rise in coronavirus cases, with pilot events restricted to 1,000 people.
But the Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Tuesday has announced a range of restrictions including those related to mass gatherings.
“We have to acknowledge that the spread of the virus is now affecting our ability to reopen business conferences, exhibitions and large sporting events,” he said.
“So, we will not be able to do this from October 1 and I recognise the implications for our sports clubs which are the life and soul of our communities, and my right honourable friends the Chancellor and the Culture Secretary are working urgently on what we can do now to support them,” he added.
Johnson added the measures would remain in place for ‘perhaps six months’, saying: “We will spare no effort in developing vaccines, treatments, new forms of mass-testing but unless we palpably make progress we should assume that the restrictions that I have announced will remain in place for perhaps six months.
“For the time being, this virus is a fact of our lives and I must tell the House and the country that our fight against it will continue.”
Spectators had been set to return from the start of next month on a socially distanced basis, with capacities set to be limited to between 25 and 35 per cent.
Each event had already been capped at 1,000 capacities, but will now take place behind closed doors on government advice.
The news will be a devastating blow to sports clubs across the country, many of whom rely heavily on match-day revenue for survival.
The EFL had already estimated that its clubs will lose a collective £200 million without fans in stadiums for the whole of the 2020-21 season.
Before this new development, there have already been calls from sports governing bodies for the government to provide emergency funding.
