Premier League chief executive Richard Masters has said the Premier League retains some hope that supporters will be allowed to return to stadiums in restricted numbers this season.
Manchester United and Manchester City have had no home fans in attendance in almost a year.
However, it has now been revealed that supporters could return to matches before the end of the season.
Masters admitted that football has been treated differently compared to other sports by the government during the pandemic, something which could offer a boost to both United and Man City before the end of the campaign.
Speaking at the Financial Times Business of Football event, Masters said that it will be next season before significant numbers return to games but admitted that he is keen to see turnstiles open for smaller numbers before the conclusion of the current campaign.
A number of factors will impact these plans. Such factors include a lifting of the current nationwide lockdown, though there is renewed optimism that this is plausible with case numbers falling and the vaccine rollout working.
"No one can say because this pandemic has a way of surprising you, as it did over Christmas, but we've not lost hope we will see a few back this season," Masters said.
"Certainly next season I hope it opens up quickly, we can work with the government again, and get fans back into stadiums in real numbers."
The Premier League season is scheduled to finish in May. Meanwhile, Boris Johnson is set to make an announcement of how the UK will come out of lockdown next week, which could include a roadmap to the return of fans in stadiums.
Master was also asked if he felt the Premier League was made an example of and treated more harshly by the government in comparison to other sports. He said that the sport has been a victim of its own success.
"There have been a number of instances where football has been treated differently to others but it's the flip side to being the success story we are," he added. "The optics of being seen to do the right thing is important. We're making progress."
