| Fans may not be able to return to sporting events until at least end of March 23:51 - Sep 22 with 1173 views | BringBackTheRedRoom |
Fans may not to be able to return to watch live sporting events in England until the end of March at the earliest.
At a meeting on Tuesday, sports governing bodies - including those from football, rugby, cricket, Formula 1 and horse racing - were told to prepare for no spectators throughout the winter.
Officials from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) told the meeting, which was attended by Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden, that the ban on fans will be kept under review.
Premiership Rugby chief executive Darren Childs said: "The announcement that supporters will not be allowed into stadiums for up to six months cuts off crucial revenue for clubs who have already suffered significant financial losses from suspending the season and playing matches behind closed doors since March.
"We believe the lack of supporters in our grounds could cause irreparable damage to our clubs and the communities they serve, so we must find a way forward to avoid this."
Ralph Rimmer, the chief executive of the Rugby Football League, added: "Today's call specifically focused on the postponement of the pilot event programme and the plans for socially distanced crowds and the further serious impact this will now have on sports.
"The secretary of state indicated that the postponement may last throughout the winter. The impact on Rugby League and other sports is profound."
Earlier on Tuesday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson outlined a range of new restrictions for the country, including confirmation that plans to allow fans to return to sport from 1 October would not go ahead.
The plans had been placed under review earlier this month after a rise in coronavirus cases.
The UK's Covid-19 alert level has moved to 4, meaning transmission is "high or rising exponentially".
The prime minister also said restrictions are likely to remain in place for the next six months.
"We have to acknowledge the spread of the virus is now affecting our ability to reopen large sporting events," said the prime minister.
In an address to the Commons on Tuesday, Johnson announced new restrictions for the country and those included the halting of the phased return of fans.
"We will not be able to do this from 1 October and I recognise the implications for our sports clubs, which are the life and soul of our communities," he added.
"The chancellor and the culture secretary are working urgently on what we can do now to support them."
The pilot programme, which was to trial events of up to 1,000 spectators, has also been paused.
Two Premiership rugby union matches - Bath v Gloucester on Tuesday and Bristol v Leicester next week - will now be played behind closed doors, as will a horse racing meeting at Newmarket later this week.
The majority of sports in England have been played behind closed doors since the coronavirus lockdown in March, including Premier League football fixtures and the FA Cup final, England's Test cricket matches and two Formula 1 races at Silverstone.
Sport events that took place with full crowds in March shortly before all fixtures were postponed and the UK locked down have come under scrutiny.
The impact of Liverpool's Champions League fixture against Atletico Madrid on the spread of coronavirus is being investigated by the city's council, while there have also been calls for an investigation into whether horse racing's Cheltenham Festival should have gone ahead.
The government defended its decision to allow such events to proceed before restrictions on mass gatherings were introduced.
"People look back now at the beginning of the pandemic at some of the major sporting events then and ask the question why were they allowed to go ahead," said Cabinet Secretary Michael Gove on BBC Breakfast earlier on Tuesday.
"What we must do is look at sporting events now with caution but we also recognise that sport is a vital part of this nation and we're looking at everything we can do to support our athletes, our great clubs, through what will be a challenging time."
Julian Knight, the chair of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) select committee, said: "If we don't find a route map with smart solutions to allow sports and live events to gradually reopen, we risk decimation of our sporting and cultural infrastructure."
The leaders of more than 100 sports bodies have written to the prime minister to ask for emergency funding, warning of "a lost generation of activity" because of coronavirus.
Sport England has handed out £200m for emergency cases, but many in the sector believe more is needed.
Earlier this month, Premier League chief executive Richard Masters told BBC Sport it was "absolutely critical" fans were allowed back inside stadiums as soon as possible and failure to do so would cost clubs £700m during the 2020-21 season.
English Football League (EFL) clubs lost £50m in gate receipts last season and estimate a £200m loss if there are no fans this season.
The Rugby Football Union (RFU), said no spectators at the forthcoming Autumn Nations Cup or Six Nations will result in losses of £60m.
Rugby Football League chief executive Ralph Rimmer urged the government not to delay the return of crowds, with clubs facing a potential impact on revenues of "up to £2m per week".
At the end of August, 2,500 people watched a friendly between Brighton and Chelsea at the Seagulls' Amex Stadium - the first time fans had been allowed into a Premier League ground for almost six months.
About 300 spectators were allowed to watch last month's World Snooker Championship final between Ronnie O'Sullivan and Kyren Wilson at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, but original plans to admit fans for all days of the tournament were reversed.
Arsenal's 9-1 victory over West Ham in the Women's Super League on 12 September saw up to 1,000 fans attend.
More than 2,500 spectators bought tickets for the first day of the St Leger meeting at Doncaster on 9 September, the first crowd at a British horse racing fixture in six months - but the rest of the meeting was then held behind closed doors.
Also on Tuesday, it was confirmed that indoor recreational team sports such as netball, basketball and five-a-side football will not be able to continue under the new restrictions, which limit numbers taking part to six.
Larger fitness classes will be permitted, as long as they are organised so those taking part do not mix in groups of more than six.
Elite indoor sports are exempt, as are indoor sports played by children.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/54246745 | |
| ‘Where there is harmony, may we bring discord. Where there is truth, may we bring error. Where there is faith, may we bring doubt. And where there is hope, may we bring despair’ |
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| Fans may not be able to return to sporting events until at least end of March on 05:15 - Sep 23 with 1170 views | spell_chekker |
Talk in the papers this morning if about "Armageddon" in the lower leagues. | |
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| Fans may not be able to return to sporting events until at least end of March on 07:27 - Sep 23 with 1161 views | ROTTWEILERS |
Current govt policy is completely ruinous. If the additional loss of life wasn't bad enough, they are also tearing society apart at the seams. Highly, highly unethical. | |
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| Fans may not be able to return to sporting events until at least end of March on 08:29 - Sep 23 with 1149 views | spell_chekker |
Johnson's been taking a battering recently.
In the last couple of weeks, 5 ex Prime Ministers (including 3 tory) came out to say he wasn't fit for purpose.
There was also a movement saying he was incompetent. | |
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| Fans may not be able to return to sporting events until at least end of March on 09:30 - Sep 23 with 1144 views | BringBackTheRedRoom |
It's what you get when you allow Government dictatorial power, to rule by decree with no oversight, total chaos.
Makes a mockery of this answer in Parliament
Blame everybody, anybody but yourself.
Can see some clubs not lasting past the end of October now. | |
| ‘Where there is harmony, may we bring discord. Where there is truth, may we bring error. Where there is faith, may we bring doubt. And where there is hope, may we bring despair’ |
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| Fans may not be able to return to sporting events until at least end of March on 09:57 - Sep 23 with 1139 views | spudgun |
Absolute chunder from Johnson, dismissing the importance of test and trace, then all the populist nonsense about freedom.
The ruling by decree is becoming a problem for the Tory backbenchers, but Johnson has never done scrutiny, and is unlikely to do so... | | | |
| Fans may not be able to return to sporting events until at least end of March on 12:30 - Sep 23 with 1128 views | Imperial |
The rich clubs will survive and get bigger and the poorest will be cast aside. Non league clubs will be decimated and to be honest league one and two will see numbers greatly reduced without support.
No planning , sink or swim, policy made up by the day. | | | |
| Fans may not be able to return to sporting events until at least end of March on 12:34 - Sep 23 with 1124 views | ROTTWEILERS |
Spot on, Redmond. | |
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| Fans may not be able to return to sporting events until at least end of March on 14:04 - Sep 23 with 1116 views | BringBackTheRedRoom |
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| ‘Where there is harmony, may we bring discord. Where there is truth, may we bring error. Where there is faith, may we bring doubt. And where there is hope, may we bring despair’ |
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| Fans may not be able to return to sporting events until at least end of March on 17:02 - Sep 23 with 1101 views | spell_chekker |
We're so lucky to have Sadler.
Imagine if The Oystons were still in control.
The whole competition in all leagues right throughout the footballing pyramid will be rendered completely meaningless if a significant number of clubs go bust.
Where would the joy be in promotion for us if it was gained by championship and L1 clubs going out of business.
Even this year's premiership champions would only be the champions of a severely diminished thing. Load of clubs below them fold and they'd be champions representing the remaining runt. | |
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| Fans may not be able to return to sporting events until at least end of March on 20:04 - Sep 23 with 1092 views | BringBackTheRedRoom |
People being allowed in pubs but not stadiums 'bizarre' - EFL's Rick Parry
English Football League chairman Rick Parry says it is "a little bizarre" people are allowed in pubs but cannot attend football matches.
Crowds were due to return to sports events in limited numbers next month, but Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Tuesday that this will not go ahead.
The decision came after seven EFL clubs piloted small crowds last Saturday.
"We believe we've created models of a really safe environment where people could be entertained safely," he said.
Speaking to BBC Sport, Parry added: "It just seems a little bizarre that you can still go into pubs and clubs and circulate, albeit you have to come out at 10 o'clock.
"It is a tad ironic and disappointing as we had seven extremely successful pilots at the weekend."
Earlier on Wednesday, Parry said in a statement that the EFL was "deeply frustrated" after Tuesday's news that fans' return to matches would be halted.
The league is "expecting" financial support will be made available from the government, but is not aware at this stage what form it will take.
"Clearly it would be a preference to have grants rather than loans but we are entirely realistic," Parry added.
"Many of the packages we're exploring at the moment contain an element of loan. Of course it has to be paid back, but the priority at the moment is getting through the next 12 months, getting through the virus."
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden held a meeting with representatives of several major sports following Tuesday's announcement, during which a request for a sports recovery fund was discussed.
The EFL is one of a number of bodies to outline concerns over the government's decision, with Rugby Football Union chief Bill Sweeney saying no spectators at the forthcoming Autumn Nations Cup or Six Nations will result in losses of £60m.
Meanwhile, the Premier League is considering alternatives after the proposed return of fans was scrapped, with season ticket holders accessing streams of matches not due to be broadcast an idea being addressed.
Asked whether the EFL had been in contact with the Premier League in light of Tuesday's announcement, Parry said: "We remain confident, we remain in dialogue.
"Paradoxically, perhaps because of yesterday's announcement, it's now a shared problem. It's not just our problem, it's their problem as well and maybe that brings the whole thing rather more into focus. We now have a collective problem, hopefully we can find a collective solution."
'It's like a pre-season friendly every week'
Swindon Town boss Richie Wellens believes, in the light of the government's decision, that Premier League clubs should provide funding to support clubs in the third and fourth tiers.
"It's like playing a pre-season friendly every week. It's so difficult," he told BBC Radio Wiltshire.
"It was a devastating blow for football yesterday that supporters have not been allowed in, especially when you see people in pubs and supermarkets and they're in an enclosed environment and they're still walking past each other.
"I don't agree with giving us [EFL clubs] a loan that we pay back interest free. That would help, but I just think if they were to take a couple of million pounds from each of the Premier League clubs, it would create £40m to disperse between League One and Two clubs and that would help massively."
Meanwhile, Colchester United chairman Robbie Cowling said in an open letter to the prime minister on Wednesday he was "astounded" by the decision.
"With this one decision you have not only threatened the livelihoods of the staff at Colchester United and the local businesses that rely on our club, and not only those staff and local businesses of every other football club in the EFL, but those of every club across every sport in the UK," he said.
"Just so I understand it when I'm having to lay off even more staff, can someone explain to me again how I can safely sit in a confined aeroplane with 300 other passengers, and I can safely eat inside a restaurant or drink inside a pub until 10pm, but I can't safely attend a football match which is predominately outside and has been certificated as safe by a SAG (safety advisory group)?"
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54269398 | |
| ‘Where there is harmony, may we bring discord. Where there is truth, may we bring error. Where there is faith, may we bring doubt. And where there is hope, may we bring despair’ |
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| Fans may not be able to return to sporting events until at least end of March on 20:11 - Sep 23 with 1089 views | spudgun |
"Swindon boss Richie Wellens believes, in the light of the government`s decision, that Premier League clubs should provide funding for clubs in the third and forth tiers."
What about those in the seventh tier, Mr Wellens?  | | | |
| Fans may not be able to return to sporting events until at least end of March on 07:04 - Sep 24 with 1080 views | spell_chekker |
The whole pyramid is in danger of collapsing but 1 thing - football will survive.
People will always want to play, watch, form clubs.
You never know, a post coronavirus world might include a completely restructured and better system. | |
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| Fans may not be able to return to sporting events until at least end of March on 10:44 - Sep 24 with 1069 views | spudgun |
Non league clubs will have to introduce streaming to have any chance, and players will have to take wage cuts.
You would like to think there will be some recalibration of football in general, spell... | | | |
| Fans may not be able to return to sporting events until at least end of March on 11:55 - Sep 24 with 1065 views | BringBackTheRedRoom |
Couple of questions Spud....
How will this effect a club like Lancaster?
Did you get any further with talking about streaming their matches? | |
| ‘Where there is harmony, may we bring discord. Where there is truth, may we bring error. Where there is faith, may we bring doubt. And where there is hope, may we bring despair’ |
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| Fans may not be able to return to sporting events until at least end of March on 13:08 - Sep 24 with 1053 views | spudgun |
Not sure to be honest, Red.
At the moment a reduced number of fans are being allowed in (I notice South Shields are a big loser - only 600 allowed instead of the normal 2000+). City only get around 300-400, so it shouldn`t affect them much on that score. South Shields`s wage bill will be similar to a L2 club, I imagine.
However if numbers are reduced further, or fans banned from attending altogether, I can`t see how they can pay the wages that NPL clubs do.
I believe City have overspent on wages this year to the tune of £1000 a week (not very prudent in the climate), so a good cup run is essential anyway. If fans are banned I do not see how they can put a team out unless bankrolled (even more) by the chairman. Most other team`s will be in a similar situation, so the players would have to play for love. Can`t see that happening.
I suggested to young spud that he mention it to the manager a month or so ago, but I never heard any feedback. You would have thought that the NPL clubs would have held discussions on this if they had any business sense. Having been involved at that level once, I won`t hold my breath... | | | |
| Fans may not be able to return to sporting events until at least end of March on 16:27 - Sep 24 with 1045 views | Imperial |
Talk is of seasons not starting for divisions below the National league.
This could be the start of a mass extinction of lower league clubs and lets be honest who in the premier league really cares. Their payroll is financed by TV deals something which will grow in importance and worth when it becomes "the only game in town" literally.
Even Blackpool need to worry as the quality of their opposition declines and the gap between the have's and the have not widens. | | | |
| Fans may not be able to return to sporting events until at least end of March on 18:16 - Sep 24 with 1039 views | BringBackTheRedRoom |
Elite sport must find a way to support itself, says minister Nigel Huddleston
Elite sport will be expected to "look at ways in which it can support itself" through financial difficulties arising from the absence of fans, the UK sports minister has told Parliament.
Nigel Huddleston said the government understood the recent restrictions put in place would "cause financial difficulties" to sports, but that the focus would be directed to "those most in need".
Major governing bodies have warned of "profound" and "severe" consequences from the loss of matchday revenue.
The Premier League said clubs are losing £100m per month, the Rugby Football Union said it could lose £60m if there are no fans at the autumn internationals and Six Nations, and the England and Wales Cricket Board said it has already lost £100m because of coronavirus.
Premiership Rugby, which runs rugby union's top domestic competition in England, warned that the lack of supporters had the potential to cause "irreparable damage" to clubs and communities.
English Football League chairman Rick Parry told BBC Sport on Wednesday that he was "expecting" some sort of financial help from the government.
Sports Minister Huddleston also confirmed that non-elite sports, including football below National Leagues North and South, will be able to continue allowing spectators.
Meanwhile, the first meeting took place of an expert taskforce chaired by Carphone Warehouse co-founder David Ross and set up to explore "high-tech solutions" that would allow elite sports grounds to reopen.
The Sports Technology and Innovation Group is made up of sport, health and technology experts including the Premier League chair Gary Hoffman, and will be looking at the whole 'fan journey' from home to stadiums.
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said its aim was to work through "innovative ideas and technology which could help get fans back where they belong, in stadia and grounds, more quickly".
Earlier, Damian Collins MP told the House of Commons that clubs were facing financial ruin, and asked what "guarantee" Huddleston could provide to Football League clubs, in light of the £1.5bn offered to arts organisations.
"We are in discussions with major sports, including football bodies," Huddleston said.
"Yesterday I wrote to the governing bodies of all major spectator sports to formally begin discussions and provide them with a contact point.
"I also asked the governing bodies to provide me with details of any member clubs or associations under imminent financial threat and we will be providing more information in due course."
He added: "We recognise the impact of the decisions this week to delay the reopening of stadia over the winter will have on sport.
"The government now will work at pace with sports to understand the issues faced by organisations facing the most challenging circumstances and assess what further support may be required."
Elite sports have been warned that they may be unable to have fans back for six months.
Huddleston said he was "unable" to give any prospective target dates for the return of fans, because of the uncertainty surrounding the pandemic.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/54284735
"Sports Minister Huddleston also confirmed that non-elite sports, including football below National Leagues North and South, will be able to continue allowing spectators." | |
| ‘Where there is harmony, may we bring discord. Where there is truth, may we bring error. Where there is faith, may we bring doubt. And where there is hope, may we bring despair’ |
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| Fans may not be able to return to sporting events until at least end of March on 18:23 - Sep 24 with 1035 views | spudgun |
"Non-elite"
Try telling that to the Lancaster Ultras... | | | |
| Fans may not be able to return to sporting events until at least end of March on 20:26 - Sep 24 with 1024 views | spell_chekker |
Lancaster could be in a position to benefit from other club's misery. | |
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| Fans may not be able to return to sporting events until at least end of March on 09:23 - Sep 25 with 1009 views | spudgun |
Lancaster have had their capacity reduced to 200 I believe, due to poor adherence to Covid guidelines on Tuesday, which cuts their matchday revenue by over a third. Don`t know whether it is a temporary thing or not. Let`s hope for a good FA Cup draw today.
#prayforcity... | | | |
| Fans may not be able to return to sporting events until at least end of March on 09:31 - Sep 25 with 1008 views | spell_chekker |
They won't be able to survive on crowds of 200.
Looking forward to the cup draw. | |
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