Prime Minister Boris Johnson has handed a boost to football supporters across the country as he outlined his hope for stadiums to be opened in October.
Following the three-month hiatus to the 2019/20 season, fans of clubs across all levels of football have been unable to attend live matches - although there has been an increase in televised Premier League matches, including free-to-air coverage.
Having no fans in the stadium significantly affects the finances of clubs, all of whom have been hit hard by the economic crisis that has come alongside the coronavirus pandemic, but there are hopes of that changing.
In his latest press conference on Friday, Boris Johnson stated the government was planning for the worst but hoping for the best as the roadmap for a return to normality is updated.
From August 1, a slew of new freedoms will be allowed, including re-opening indoor performances, and he added that he hopes that supporters will be able to return to football stadiums from the middle of October.
The PM also said he hopes that the UK will return to ‘significant normality’ by the middle of November, with the remainder of restrictions eased ‘possibly for Christmas’.
That will provide hope for the 2020/21 season to be played in the more recognised format with packed crowds in stadiums across the country but, with the season expected to start in mid-September, it looks likely that the first few games of the season will be played behind closed doors.
Full details on the start date for the 2020/21 season are yet to be confirmed and any plans for fans attending matches is conditional based on how the battle against coronavirus develops and would also be subject to local lockdown restrictions, if they were to be implemented.
