Plans to ban fans from watching an English football club because the pitch is in Wales have been branded “absurd”.
Chester FC has an English postcode, its ticket office and car park are in England and it plays in the National League North, the sixth tier of English football.
But the club’s Deva Stadium straddles the Welsh border and its pitch is in Wales, where Covid rules mean only 50 spectators are allowed at sports events.
And now it is being investigated for breaching the regulations.
A statement from the Welsh Government said: “We understand that administratively the club is based in England, but the stadium is in Wales.
That is a simple geographical fact.
“The club’s home games are therefore subject to the current Welsh Coronavirus restrictions, and have been since they came into force at 6am on Boxing Day.”
Chester MP Chris Matheson said he thought it was a “joke” when he was told the news and said the situation was “absurd”.
He said: “The club has a central Chester postal address, and the offices of the club are in England. The Club is affiliated with Cheshire FA.
“The only access to the club is via the English side and games have always been policed by Cheshire Police.
“I’m absolutely in favour of respecting rules to manage the coronavirus pandemic but the club has been doing just that.”
He added: “I’ll be supporting the club board to find a common sense resolution to this mess.”
Chester are due to host Brackley Town next Saturday and its chairman Andrew Morris said the club could go under without ticket sales.
Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford said today he will hold talks with the club to find a “pragmatic solution.”
He said: “I’m sure there is a sensible pragmatic solution here but doesn’t mean that the club is placed in jeopardy, but doesn’t result in the law being broken either.”
