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      A Premier League stadium is safer than your living room right now so it’s hard to understand delay in bringing back fans

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      IT IS becoming increasingly difficult to see what the delay in bringing back spectators to football is all about — except optics.
      At a time when the Government is promoting the “Rule of Six” and the country is subject to various local lockdowns, people will be scratching their heads, asking: “How can I not be allowed to meet with more than five other people I know but can go to a football match with thousands of people I don’t know?”

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      Karren Brady believes a Premier League football stadium is one of the safest places you can be

      I can see what a difficult and conflicting message that might send out, which the Government might like to avoid.
      Except that a Premier League football stadium is the safest place you can be. Safer than your own living room.
      Our highly supervised environment means supporters are safer in there than if they were mixing informally in their own homes.
      Yes, of course there are sound reasons why numbers have to be phased in, like the access to public transport (despite the fact that millions of people are being urged to go back to work).

      Then there is the congregation of supporters before and after the games.
      But we are not talking about late-night ravers here, we are talking about sensible football supporters who can to go to an activity in a safe way.
      My plea for the return of sizeable crowds is by no means all about the loss of revenue although the sums are eye-wateringly large.
      Lost match revenue for the Premier League stands all in at about £80million a MONTH.

      It also rests on the loss of watching the best of football from where millions of people derive the greatest pleasure — right there in the stadium.
      Reacting to the good and even the not-so-good.
      Your team belongs to you and you to the team. Is there anything more stirring?
      The history of Covid-19 and spectator sport began in March when the number of cases arising from the last Cheltenham Festival was never published.
      But crowds of 60,000 or so a day over five days must have accelerated the rate the disease spread.
      That, the Twickenham rugby international the previous Saturday and a serious infection striking Prime Minister Boris Johnson are seen as key events in transmission that led to lockdown.
      Once so permissive, it is hardly surprising the Government is now very cautious.

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      Fans watch a match while social distancing
      Several times it has tentatively agreed to allow small attendances at snooker, rugby, cricket and football only for it to pull out the day before on several occasions.
      This week it put its foot in the water again, giving permission to some English League clubs to open the gates to 1,000 fans each.
      So, while it is possible that from October 3 small crowds are to be allowed at some or all matches — after all, it is working in Germany as their clubs’ stadiums can now operate at 20 per cent capacity — it seems unlikely.
      Even with an agreed Premier League common standards approach to getting the supporters in, which includes those attending wearing face coverings, screening measures (health questionnaires and temperature checks), contactless tickets and payments, agreed transport strategies, test-and-trace arrangements and sanction regimes for individual fans and clubs who don’t follow the rules.
      The bottom line is the clubs of the Premier League and EFL are run by responsible people.
      We know how easily the virus can be passed from person to person and we are well aware of ways to prevent this happening.

      A Premier League football stadium is the safest place you can be. Safer than your own living room. Our highly supervised environment means supporters are safer in there than if they were mixing informally in their own homes.
      Karren Brady

      The precautions taken against players catching it have been exhaustive and highly successful.
      Staff have become expert testers and players, with very few exceptions, have not strayed.
      The Government trusted us to restart last season and we should by now have earned its support in staging matches in front of crowds.
      Frankly, 1,000 spectators in, say, West Ham’s London Stadium — which has 66,000 seats — is so wide of that objective it rivals me in high heels shooting for goal from 25 yards. It is both laughable and irrelevant.
      We could raise that number by 20 times and deal with the problem of social distancing both inside and outside the stadium.
      It could, of course, all happen a lot quicker if we had even a dependable testing system, never mind world-beating.
      Over to you, Boris.

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      Warnock to be in contact with Middlesbrough staff and players from home for Bournemouth clash after positive Covid test

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      NEIL WARNOCK will get his tech head on to try and inspire Middlesbrough to victory over Bournemouth.
      The 71-year-old tested positive for Covid-19 this week and will be forced to watch today’s Championship clash from his North East home while self-isolating.

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      Neil Warnock will miss Boro’s clash with Bournemouth after testing positive for Covid-19Credit: Getty

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      Kevin Blackwell will step up on the touchline after the boss self-isolatesCredit: Rex Features

      Trusted lieutenants Kevin Blackwell and Ronnie Jepson will take charge of the side as 1,000 fans return to the Riverside for the first time since March.
      And despite his health scare, which also forced him to watch the Carabao Cup game with Barnsley from a private box, Warnock will still be in the ears of his squad and assistants before and during the game.
      Blackwell said: “He’s fine – that’s the frustrating thing for everybody. We just him all the best and get well as quick as he can.

      “He is in his house up and here and he will be watching from there. 
      He’s got everything technologically wise set-up to watch the game and communicate directly to the ground.
      “It’s marvelous what technology is now and gone are the days when if he was sent home no-one would have seen him for 14 days.
      “We can see him everyday and the company is running very well as it is. 

      “Neil will certainly speak to one or two platers by phone over the next 24 hours over what we are expecting from them.
      “There is an opportunity, hopefully, that he will speak to them before the game. Quite when that will be, I’m not sure yet.
      “With this new Zoom technology and everything else we have got it, and the IT guys we have here, we can rig up something and will certainly use that.
      Boro lost 1-0 at Watford on the opening day before Barnsley dumped them out of the cup on Tuesday.
      However, the Teessiders will have the extra lift of having supporters cheering them on against the Cherries, who beat Blackburn 3-2 last weekend, after the game was given the green light to be part of the EFL’s Covid-19 programme.

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      This will be the first time Boro’s fans will have a chance to welcome Warnock’s management team in person, and given the awful run of one home win since Boxing Day, Blackwell cannot wait to have supporters back.
      He added: “We want to win games and it’s as simple as that… they are the demands we set.
      “Having fans there behind you can make such a difference. There is no doubt it will help.
      “When it was closed down and we were fighting relegation, it actually helped us not to have fans here as myself, Neil and Ronnie were able to get information across live in the game, equally across to the players on the other side of the pitch, so that actually helped us.
      “No we think we look a little bit more structured and getting better performances, the added bit of the crowd is what we now need to add that little extra edge that could win the games for us.
      “So we are absolutely delighted they are coming back and we can’t wait until we can get many more back.”

      Neil Warnock tests positive for coronavirus and will self-isolate More

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      Welsh side Connah’s Quay let THREE ill stars play in Europa League clash despite Covid-19 outbreak at club, admits boss

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      WELSH side Connah’s Quay Nomads let unwell players line up in their Europa League qualifier despite a Covid-19 outbreak at club.
      Boss Andy Morrison admitted they “turned a blind eye” to THREE players who said they felt ill before the 1-0 loss to Georgian side Dinamo Tblisi.

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      Connah’s Quay Nomads manager Andy Morrison

      That is despite FOUR stars already missing the game after positive coronavirus tests, with one more in quarantine.
      Former Man City defender Morrison admitted: “Three lads have turned up tonight and they’re not well.
      “And it’s like ‘lads I don’t want to hear it. I can’t hear it tonight that you’re ill, please like you know. Let’s just get through it’.
      “I’ve been told that before the game and we’ve had to turn a blind eye to it and then you would have never noticed that anyone there tonight wasn’t feeling great.”

      Tbilisi progressed through to the third qualifying round thanks to a 97th minute penalty.

      And it’s like ‘lads I don’t want to hear it. I can’t hear it tonight that you’re ill’
      Andy Morrison

      The match went ahead despite four Nomads players testing positive for Covid-19 beforehand, according to BBC Sport.
      The quartet and a fifth player, who has yet to test positive, were forced to self-isolate.
      Elsewhere in Europe Tottenham progressed after beating Bulgarian minnows Lokomotiv Plovdiv.

      Jose Mourinho’s men needed two late goals to scrape past the second qualifying round.
      Spurs were in fact trailing 1-0 with 10 minutes to go, before a Harry Kane penalty and Tanguy Ndombele’s winner four minutes from time put them through.

      They dominated possession against but lacked creativity as they failed to make a breakthrough against 11 men.
      But Kane smashed home a spot kick to make it 1-1 in the 80th minute.
      And Spurs won it when Ndombele fired home a cross from fellow sub Lucas Moura in the 86th minute.

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      Prem clubs could play matches at neutral grounds as chiefs rubber-stamp rule in case of another coronavirus lockdown

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      PREMIER LEAGUE chiefs have officially written games on neutral grounds into the rulebook for the first time.
      But the 2020-21 rulebook makes NO mention of any plans if a Covid-19 resurgence means the season cannot be played to a conclusion.

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      Manchester United’s Old Trafford could play host to a number of Premier League fixturesCredit: Getty – Contributor

      League bosses have now published their handbook containing the full league rules for the new campaign.
      Two new clauses make specific mention of games being played behind closed doors and, if necessary, at neutral stadiums.
      Rule C.1B states: “Where the home club is unable to secure a safety certificate in respect of that specific league match, that league match will be played on a neutral ground, the date, the time and the venue of which shall be determined by the board.”
      An additional guidance note adds: “Rule A.1.86 defines the home club as ‘the club at whose stadium a league match is or was or should be or should have been played’.”

      The issue saw a successful backlash from the Prem clubs during the shutdown as they forced through a change in plans to restart the league by playing all matches in six chosen neutral venues.
      Clubs led by Brighton and Aston Villa, but swiftly backed unanimously, won the battle to play on home soil dispute initial police suggestions that they feared crowds gathering outside grounds.
      ROCK ‘N RULE
      But by including the provision in the rulebook, league bosses – with the approval of the clubs – have signalled they will be willing to take all and any necessary steps that allow them to play the season out.
      That also explains why there is no specific mention of “curtailment” options – despite Prem chief executive Richard Masters confirming last week that he wants an agreement soon.

      The rules simply state that “the club which is at the top of the table at the end of the season shall be the league champions” with the bottom three clubs “relegated to the Football League” without confirming what constitutes the final table.
      The last debate saw the 20 clubs at an impasse over quantifying the number of games that had to be played for a points per game calculation to be utilised in the event of non-completion of the season.
      Masters said: “There’s no agreement yet. We had a very good discussion last week amongst clubs looking at this. 
      “When we faced the issues in March and April we all know that the rule book did not adequately deal with the situation so you want to add more certainty. 

      “What the clubs did agree with was a set of principles which would make curtailment an option of last resort.
      “That’s important. Finishing the season is the Number One priority. 
      “But the issue of a cut-off point or a number of matches to be played for a season to be valid was not agreed.”

      Premier League fans return in doubt with 1,000 people limits and bans in coronavirus hotspot areas from October 1 More

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      Arsenal’s Leah Williamson reflects on ‘risky centre-half’ days ahead of first league match in front of fans

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      LEAH WILLIAMSON reckons she used to be “a risky centre-half” who gave her team-mates the jitters in her early Arsenal days.
      But now the defender, whose team face West Ham in the first competitive game to be attended by fans since lockdown, has become a rock in the Gunners back-four. 

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      Leah Williamson and her team-mates will take on West Ham in the first competitive football to be played in front of fans since the lockdownCredit: Getty

      Arsenal, who announced the signing of newly-capped England defender Lotte Wubben-Moy, are set for a trip across the capital to their rivals’ turf on Sunday. 
      The clash will be the first competitive fixture a select number of fans are being allowed to watch in person in England since March. 
      One of the last big football games to be played in front of supporters on English soil was Liverpool’s Champions League clash against Atletico Madrid at Anfield six months ago.  
      The WSL encounter between West Ham and Arsenal is due to be part of the government’s test run of allowing spectators to attend sporting events. 
      It will also be an opportunity for supporters at the game to observe the skills that have seen Williamson evolve from being a “risky defender”  to a commanding figure in the Gunners rearguard. 
      Williamson, 23, said: “I was a risky centre-half and used to probably make everybody’s hearts jump out of their chest three or four times a game! 
      “So to have matured as a player, maybe it’s sort of naturally led on to me maturing in terms of leading. 

      “I don’t feel pressure but I do acknowledge that I have made myself a person in the team that needs to have a good game now, and they expect that of me.

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      England international Williamson has developed into a solid defender for Arsenal following her ‘risky centre-back’ days Credit: Getty
      Williamson was part of an Arsenal squad who finished behind Manchester City and champions Chelsea in the Women Super League last term. 
      And the third spot result for Joe Montemurro’s side means they miss out on a Champions League spot this season – a competition they reached the semi-finals of in August. 

      It is different and we can’t wait to have everyone back, we just want to make sure that it is done properly and done for the safety of everyone
      Joe Montemurro

      Williamson added: “Not having to contend with the Champions League, it’s definitely not necessarily a benefit, because you get better playing against the best teams and those games will make the best teams.
      “But at the same time, you can really make it work in your favour because of the lack of congestion you have when you’re not in the Champions League.”
      West Ham’s clash against the Gunners is due to be attended by a maximum crowd of 1,000 Hammers season ticket holders at the grounds of Dagenham and Redbridge.

      And Hammers owner Jack Sullivan, and Arsenal boss Montemurro spoke of their pride in having supporters see their teams play for the first time since Spring. 
      Gunners coach Montemurro, 50, said: “We hope that it’s the start of something going forward not just for the WSL but all sports. 
      “It is different and we can’t wait to have everyone back, we just want to make sure that it is done properly and done for the safety of everyone.” 

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      Premier League release damning statement over Government U-turn on fans back in stadiums and REFUSE to hold test events

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      PREMIER LEAGUE chiefs have released a statement slamming the Government after plans to allow fans allowed back in stadiums was delayed.
      It has also been announced that the Premier League will defer hosting further test events following Brighton’s friendly against Chelsea last month.

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      Brighton’s home friendly against Chelsea last month was watched by 2,500 fansCredit: Rex Features

      Club bosses had banked on fans returning to Premier League grounds from the start of October before the latest Covid-19 surge brought a new clampdown.
      But in a letter sent to the Government, the league said there was no point in pushing ahead with potential restricting numbers to 1,000.
      A Premier League spokesman said: “The Premier League has written to Government today to express its concern at the decisions taken to restrict, and potentially delay, the planned programme for the return of fans to football stadiums.
      “With test events now capped at 1,000 supporters, we believe they will not provide any opportunity to properly test and evaluate measures designed to maximise fan safety. 

      “Therefore, Premier League clubs will defer holding test events until a sufficient number of fans are allowed back to enable thorough trials to take place. 
      “At 1,000 supporters, not only would there be little to learn from a test event, but each match would be heavily loss-making.”
      The spokesman added: “For each month of the season without fans, more than £100 million is lost to football across the leagues, with consequent damage to the local and national economy. 
      PREM RAGE
      “It also harms the employment prospects of more than 100,000 people whose jobs depend on matchday activities.

      “Our clubs have already prepared test events and can offer larger scale trials to prove it is possible to produce bio-secure, safe environments, as was proved through the successful delivery of Project Restart.
      “The Premier League recognises the ambition of Government’s Operation Moonshot and will support the project’s objectives to get fans back into stadiums. 

      “However, we believe measures are already available which would allow the safe return of fans and should also be activated now.
      “As the Government begins its review of the 1 October date for the return of spectators to sport, the Premier League asks that the high safety standards which can be achieved by our clubs are fully taken into account before any decision is taken and that sport is not left behind other industries.”
      Premier League chief executive Richard Masters conceded earlier this week that even opening up as suggested by health and safety experts could cost clubs £547m over the course of the season.
      That comes on top of the £700m in lost revenue that has already been sustained for last season’s shutdown and behind closed doors return.

      Prem bosses estimate the demands from Sports Safety Advisory Groups would mean average top flight attendances of just 23 per cent of capacity, with clubs including new boys Fulham facing even fewer numbers.
      Masters also said clubs were “ready, willing and able” to utilise all technological advances to ensure testing and safe entry for supporters.
      He also insisted clubs could not “perpetually stage financial difficulties”, while each behind closed door game costs the national and local economy £20m. 

      Premier League fans return in doubt with 1,000 people limits and bans in coronavirus hotspot areas from October 1 More

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      Tottenham request to have 8,000 fans back for Everton clash this weekend rejected as Government change Covid rules

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      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.

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      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.

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      A total of 2,500 supporters were allowed to watch Brighton’s pre-season friendly with Chelsea at the AmexCredit: PA

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      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 More

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      Premier League clubs facing a £1.25BN black hole with latest Government clampdown adding to nightmare

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      PREM clubs have been warned they are staring at a £1.25BILLION financial black hole.
      And League chief Richard Masters admitted things will get even worse if, as now expected, turnstiles cannot be opened at all next month.

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      Premier League sides have been told they face a £1.25billion financial black hole after locking out fansCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      The Government is set to plunge cash-strapped EFL clubs into further chaos by cutting capacities at planned test events to 1,000.
      Hopes that Prem gates would be partially opened to allow up to 25 per cent of fans inside grounds next month also seem doomed as the battle to prevent a second wave of Covid-19 intensifies.
      And while the season will start as planned on Saturday, Masters admitted: “Our clubs lost £700million in 2019-20 and that creates significant difficulties.
      “If we can only get 25 per cent of fans in this season it would cost another £547m.

      “The longer that fans are outside the stadium in numbers, the more significant the financial impact on clubs. 
      “There is perhaps a perception that the Premier League can perpetually stage financial difficulties – but that isn’t the case.”
      Arsenal, Spurs and Manchester United had all hoped to run test events – involving up to 12,000 fans at Old Trafford – in their opening home games of the campaign this month.
      Those plans have been effectively scrapped in the wake of the latest clampdown but Masters made what amounted to a plea to the Government.

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      Boris Johnson has announced crowd-cutting measures to avoid a second lockdownCredit: Getty – Pool

      He added: “The average Premier League match contributes £20m to the national and local economy. 
      “We want to play our part in bringing the economy back and keeping the Premier League model working.
      “September was always going to be a difficult month and we are in the hands of the Government but we are ready, willing and able to do what is required to get fans back.
      “We would be happy to look at health passports and testing prior to entry, plus additional hygiene measures in stadiums to deal with transmission, so we can move swiftly beyond the current guidelines and towards full capacity.”
      Masters’ warning came just 24 hours after Juventus president Andrea Agnelli revealed European clubs face a collective bill of £3.6bn from the first wave of the pandemic, with further impacts to come.
      But EFL clubs rely even more than the Prem on gate receipts to stay solvent and with the League Two trial at Cambridge on Saturday now reduced to allowing 1,000 fans rather than the planned 2,500, the situation is even more parlous.
      Masters said the Prem was “in discussions” with the EFL but declined to be drawn over a potential funding lifeline, referring back to the £200m forwarded in the summer.
      He said: “Football has historically sustained itself.
      “Clearly, we want football to thrive at every level, but we have our own problems to deal with as well.”

      Premier League fans return in doubt with 1,000 people limits and bans in coronavirus hotspot areas from October 1 More