TOTTENHAM’S request to have 8,000 fans back inside their stadium for this weekend’s Everton clash was rejected due to a change in the Government’s coronavirus rules.
Spurs hoped to allow a small percentage of supporters into the £1billion ground and submitted an application.
Tottenham’s application to have 8,000 fans at White Hart Lane for their Premier League opener with Everton was rejectedCredit: PA:Empics Sport
But despite recent pilot events – such as at Brighton’s pre-season clash with Chelsea – a rise in Covid-19 cases looks set to put a hold on the phased mass reintroduction of fans into venues.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on Wednesday there would be a review of plans to have spectators at live matches again.
And it is understood Tottenham were among the clubs to see their request for the opening weekend of the new Premier League season denied.
Jose Mourinho goes up against Carlo Ancelotti on Sunday afternoon.
The 8,000 fans would have made up around 7.5 per cent of the capacity at White Hart Lane with 4,000 in premium seats and the other 4,000 coming through general admission.
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden did, though, offer hope that fans may be able to start seeing their teams in action from October – and that pilot events were still on course to be staged.
Dowden said: “Further to the PM’s announcement we are reviewing the list of proposed sports pilots ahead of 1 October, in light of the increased number of cases. Details of changes will be announced shortly.
“We are keeping under review further easements proposed from 1 October but no changes have been announced today – and we continue to plan for the best.
A total of 2,500 supporters were allowed to watch Brighton’s pre-season friendly with Chelsea at the AmexCredit: PA
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden insists the Government are planning for the best and are working hard to get fans back in groundsCredit: EPA
“As I said on Sunday and the PM confirmed today, work continues round the clock on the moonshot project with the ambition of having audiences back much closer to normal by Christmas.”
The Government has ordered trials taking place this weekend to be significantly scaled back.
A range of sporting events are due to take place with fans in seats as government scientists test whether social distancing can work in stadiums.
The pilots – which include games in the EFL, Women’s Super League, Premiership Rugby matches and T20 cricket ties – will now be limited to just 1,000 fans.
However, Aston Villa chief executive Christian Purslow slammed Johnson’s decision to limit sports test events to that 1,000-spectator maximum during September.
Purslow couldn’t hide his dismay at the PM’s decision to allow no fans inside grounds for the Premier League return.
In an interview with BBC radio, he rapped: “We feel rather disappointed about yesterday’s news. We have actually been told the test events will be delayed and capped at 1,000 fans.
Only 4,000 fans could come in to 42,000-seater Villa Park and anyone can see that’s not viable
Christian Purslow, Aston Villa chief executive
“The only thing you will learn from having 1,000 fans in a stadium in a football test event is that football clubs lose huge amounts of money when their stadiums are empty and that has a profound impact on the economy of football.”
Purslow predicted the Premier league will haemorrhage £100million a month while fans remain locked out.
Villa Park’s 42,000 capacity would be slashed to just 4,000 under current rules and Purslow said: “In our stadium if we applied the one-metre-plus metric only about 4,000 fans could come in to 42,000-seater Villa Park and anyone can see that’s not viable.”
The League Two clash between Cambridge United and Carlisle on Saturday was due to take place with 2,500 fans in the stadium but will now have to be reduced.
That was the second in a two-game plan at the U’s Abbey Stadium after the 2-0 win over Fulham’s kids in the EFL Trophy.
Manchester United had put in place plans for their home game against Crystal Palace on September 19 to go ahead with 12,000 fans at Old Trafford.
Premier League fans return in doubt with 1,000 people limits and bans in coronavirus hotspot areas from October 1
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
