PREMIER LEAGUE games will welcome up to 10,000 supporters inside stadiums for the final two rounds of fixtures.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed the news as lockdown restrictions continue to ease from May 17.
In his press conference, he said: “From Monday 17 May indoor hospitality can reopen and indoor entertainment can resume, including cinemas, museums, and children’s play areas.
“All remaining outdoor entertainment can reopen, such as outdoor cinemas and performances.
“Some larger events will be able to take place, including conferences, theatre and concert performances, and sports events. Restrictions on the number of attendees will remain as set out in the Roadmap.”
It is also good news for the rest of the EFL, with fans allowed in for the play-off finals.
The penultimate set of Prem fixtures includes a potential top-four decider between Leicester and Chelsea while Man City fans will likely see their future champions at home to Everton on the final day.
Wembley had already welcomed 8,000 fans inside for Manchester City’s Carabao Cup final win over Tottenham as part of a test pilot scheme.
The weekend prior, 4,000 supporters were in attendance as Leicester beat Southampton to reach the FA Cup final.
And the news could also have an impact on the final venue for the Champions League final.
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The scheduled venue in Istanbul has now been ruled out because of a renewed Covid wave in Turkey.
Talks between Uefa are now looking at the potential of hosting the final in either Portugal or Wembley on May 29.
As SunSport revealed, Uefa wants guarantees that media, broadcasters, VIPs from around the football world and sponsors will be allowed to enter the UK without strict quarantine requirements.
While visitors would be allowed to attend Wembley for training and press conferences and the match itself, they would be confined to hotel quarters for the rest of their stay and not allowed out to sight-see.
But that is a serious sticking point for Euro chiefs, who are pressing for restrictions to be lifted.
Meanwhile Portugal was placed on the Government’s ‘green list’ of countries last Friday, meaning travellers coming back to the UK would not be required to quarantine at home or in hotels.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
