PREMIER LEAGUE clubs will be playing in front of fans from NEXT WEDNESDAY after the government announced tier changes.
There is good news for Liverpool fans, as well as the London clubs but Manchester United and City will still have to play in front of empty seats.
Once lockdown comes to an end on December 2, supporters will be allowed to return to stadiums with attendances of up to 4,000.
However, this will depend on which tier of Covid restrictions their local area has been allocated.
How will the new system work?
- Tier 1 areas will be allowed 4,000 fans.
- Tier 2 areas will be allowed 2,000 fans.
- Tier 3 will continue behind closed doors.
Which clubs will be in Tier 1?
CAPACITY: 4,000
No Premier League or EFL clubs will be in Tier 1 after Thursday’s announcement on the new levels of restrictions.
Only Cornwall, the Isle of Wight and Isles of Scilly are the areas placed in Tier 1.
Which clubs will be in Tier 2?
CAPACITY: 2,000
London will remain in Tier 2 when lockdown ends and will be joined by Liverpool, Brighton and Southampton, who were in different tiers.
While Merseyside has gone from Tier 3 to Tier 2, the South Coast clubs have gone the opposite way, from Tier 1 to 2.
Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham, Fulham, Crystal Palace and West Ham are all being allowed to host supporters – but at a capacity of just 2,000.
Liverpool’s infection rate in the past week has dropped to just 187 per 100,000, giving the city the green light to be placed in Tier 2, allowing Jurgen Klopp and Carlo Ancelotti’s teams to play in front of two thousand supporters.
Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium is set to host 2000 fansCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Which clubs will be in Tier 3?
CAPACITY: NO FANS ALLOWED
Man City, Man Utd, Burnley, Leeds, Newcastle, Leicester and Sheffield United will remain in Tier 3 and will be banned from hosting fans.
Birmingham and the West Midlands were in Tier 2 before lockdown however the council was in discussions about a move to Tier 3, which had been described as “inevitable”.
Aston Villa, Wolves and West Brom will all have to continue playing behind closed doors.
Manchester United look like they will have to continue playing behind closed doorsCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Boris Johnson says Brits who test negative in mass trials could get ‘freedom pass’ to ignore Tiers
Can I attend if I live in a higher tier than my team?
People in Tier 1 and 2 will be allowed to move freely between their respective areas, meaning there should be no reason why a fan in Tier 2 would be prevented from watching a game in Tier 1.
However government guidance says people in Tier 3 should not leave their local areas – thought this is a recommendation and not legally enforceable.
It has yet to be confirmed whether clubs themselves will enforce a ban on Tier 3 in order to comply with the guidance.
Will I have to wear a mask to attend?
SunSport understands that masks will be required to enter and leave stadiums and while accessing concourses.
However they will NOT be required when seated.
What other rules will be in place?
Contrary to some reports, singing will not be banned at stadiums in England.
But fans will have to sign up to a charter forbidding them from doing other things such as touching those outside their household bubble.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
