- Government’s regional tier system dictates where fans can attend elite events
- In tier one, up to 4,000 fans can attend events and up to 2,000 in tier two
- Clubs and venues are preparing to welcome fans for first time since March
- Mental Health and Psychosocial considerations during the COVID-19
Arsenal will be among the first football clubs whose fans will be allowed to return to stadiums for matches next week, but Manchester United will miss out, following the announcement of a new regional tier system today.
Liverpool will also be in the first wave of top tier matches allowed to admit spectators.
Football and other elite sports, including rugby and horse racing, are now scrambling to be ready to welcome spectators, which will be the first time for many since the coronavirus pandemic swept Britain and forced the first national locdown in March.
UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock has revealed in the House of Commons which tier each area of England has been placed in as part of the new regional restrictions to limit the spread of the virus, which come into force on Wednesday December 2.
The government had already said that elite sports events would be allowed to admit spectators for the first time in more than eight months, if they are in areas where infection rates are low.
Under the rules, which come into force following the end of the latest period of national lockdown, events in tier one areas will be allowed up to 4,000 fans, in tier two it will be up to 2,000, but no supporters will be allowed at events in tier three.
The FIVE Premier League matches that will be allowed to host 2,000 fans on the weekend of December 5 and 6 are:
Tottenham v Arsenal
Liverpool v Wolves
Chelsea v Leeds
West Ham v Man United
Brighton v Southampton
