MANCHESTER UNITED are hoping to get the go-ahead to allow 12,000 fans into Old Trafford for their league game against Crystal Palace.
According to The Athletic, United will meet with the authorities on Thursday to discuss the possibility of the trial run for the match on September 19.
Man United are keen to get fans back in the stadium for matchesCredit: Reuters
If the test run is successful and doesn’t pose any security risks, United will aim to increase the capacity in the following matches.
The club want fans back in the stadium as soon as possible and a huge amount of work has gone into provisions to make fans safe.
After the match against Palace, United face Spurs and are keen to have the number boosted in time for that clash.
But the Palace match will need to be approved before any further plans can be made, and United will have to find another way to event test before fans can return.
If given the go-ahead United will have to selectively pick which fans they will allow back into a limited-capacity stadium.
Regarding the issue, a statement from United said: “We are working with the Premier League, DCMS, SGSA and the local authorities on planning a safe return of fans to matches at Old Trafford as soon as it is permitted.”
United aren’t the only Premier League side that are planning to get fans back in the stands.
Arsenal want to let between 9,000 and 15,000 fans into their match against Sheffield United on October 3.
Liverpool will let 12,500 fans into their match against the Blades on October 24.
Crystal Palace hope to allow between 4,000 and 5,000 fans into their matches from October 1.
The Red Devils have lost out on £4million per game through match-day revenue since fans have been locked out.
Match-day revenue is a large part of a football club’s income, and after the financial impact of coronavirus, teams are keen to recoup the losses made during the period.
Fans return to English football for first time in six months as Brighton host Chelsea in friendly at Amex stadium
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
