Following the restart of the UK’s soccer season without the presence of fans in any capacity, the English Premier League has written an open letter that stresses it is doing everything to see the safe return of fans.
Despite the English Football League holding 11 pre-season test events that were reported as “successful” the UK government dealt a huge blow to the entire league by announcing no fans are allowed in stadia for the next six months. It is estimated across the EFL tiers, £100m of revenue is being missed out on each week.
The English Premier League has penned its open letter urging the UK government to see the return of fans sooner, citing its work with expert bodies and the implementation of Covid-safe measures at stadia that would allow fans to attend live events without the risk of transmission.
The letter comes as the UK government has allowed the return of socially-distanced audiences at arts and music venues and now soccer should be able to do the same.
The full letter is below:
The Premier League, EFL, The FA, Women’s Super League and Women’s Championship want to assure all fans that together we are fully committed to your safe return to football grounds as soon as possible.
The health of the nation remains our overriding priority, and for many months we have been working with experts to make our grounds as safe as, if not safer than, any other public activity currently allowed. And we are consulting with the Football Supporters’ Association to keep supporters updated every step of the way.
We know attendance at matches can play a positive role in people’s lives during these challenging times. And the past few months have shown how clubs can still feel the support of their fans.
Even when you have been unable to get together, you and your clubs have found ways to make a difference in your communities, with clubs delivering food parcels, taking part in phone calls and online conversations with fans, the elderly and vulnerable and moving services and programmes online to make a difference in unprecedented and challenging circumstances.
But we all know football is not the same without fans. Every player and manager is missing the direct connection with you and the impact that you have on our games.
Successful test events
With the EFL, Premier League, Women’s Super League and Women’s Championship already staging 11 successful test events recently, we have demonstrated that we can deliver matches safely. The sooner we can return, the sooner we can reunite communities and support local jobs, livelihoods, regional businesses and also the national economy.
We will continue to urge Government to allow us to return fans safely to stadiums. It is positive progress that major arts and music venues have been told they can run socially-distanced events indoors. And now football should be allowed to do the same – in highly regulated and stewarded outdoor environments.
Additionally, representatives from football are active members of the Government’s Sports Technology and Innovation Group, as well as being involved with their “Moonshot” mass-testing project to open up the economy.
And in light of the postponement of test events we will intensify our efforts to pioneer new approaches – working with epidemiologists, scientists and medical experts in areas such as public health, clinical processes and occupational hygiene. This will make sure stadiums are COVID-safe by considering best-practice screening and hygiene methods to ensure that fans and the general public will be safe and drive the Government’s sporting plans to move faster.
Reducing risk of transmission
Stadium environments can be modified and carefully managed. Measures could include screening spectators before they enter the ground, installing temperature checks, requiring masks to be worn, one-way systems and providing a code of conduct for all those attending on a matchday. This will all be bolstered by deep-cleaning practices to help further reduce the risk of virus transmission.
Clubs want to be pro-active on this matter and are willing to consider measures both in the stadium and on the approach that will allay any concerns as to fans’ safety.
From a travel perspective, clubs will work closely with experts and local authorities to model solutions relevant for each stadium to ease pressure on public transport, while extra parking facilities could be available so a greater proportion of you can travel by private car or bicycle.
We are determined to identify a path forward with Government. We need clarity for our clubs and for you as supporters as to what the roadmap for change in this area looks like.
We all know why caution is needed, and we ask Government for consistency in their policy so sport is treated as fairly as other activities currently allowed to welcome spectators.
So, we will continue to urge the relevant authorities to let us, together, use innovative ways to bring fans safely back into football grounds, starting with a return of the test event programme. If we do so, then the benefits will be felt not just by fans but throughout society and the economy.
Richard Masters, Premier League Chief Executive
David Baldwin, EFL Chief Executive
Mark Bullingham, FA Chief Executive
Kelly Simmons, FA Director of Women’s Professional Game
