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Wales Online
Wales Online
Sport
Mathew Davies

Mark Drakeford tells Cardiff and Swansea City fans what they should do if thinking of travelling to England for sports events

First Minister Mark Drakeford has advised fans considering travelling to England to support their teams to "think carefully".

Professional sporting events in Wales now have to proceed behind closed doors from Boxing Day after a Welsh Government announcement earlier this week.

But games in England are still going ahead as normal, meaning supporters can travel to away grounds to watch their teams in action.

On Wednesday lunchtime, Mr Drakeford laid out the five things his cabinet want people in Wales to do to reduce the impact of coronavirus in our lives. You can read all about that here.

Swansea City are due to face Millwall on Boxing Day, while Cardiff City are on the road against Bournemouth and West Brom before the new year. The Bluebirds' clash with Coventry City on December 26 has already been called off.

Newport County are due to face Leyton Orient on December 29 and Walsall on January 1.

Supporters face the prospect of being able to travel to away games but are unable to attend the Swansea.com Stadium or Cardiff City Stadium.

Mr Drakeford said it wasn't up to the Welsh Government to make the decision for individuals but urged people to follow the guidance laid out.

"First of all, let's see how many games actually do get played, because matches are getting cancelled pretty regularly because of the the number of people who are falling ill in teams who would otherwise be taking part," he said.

"If people are thinking of doing it [travelling to away games], it's not for the Welsh Government to make those decisions for people.

"What we ask people to do is to think carefully in making those decisions.

"Work your way through the sorts of questions that I have set out today, which would result in you making a decision that would keep yourself safe and other people.

"If you go through those questions, and you come to the conclusion that the risks would be higher than the rewards, then of course you wouldn't go.

"But the key thing is to do these things in a conscious way, having worked your way through the considerations that we have outlined and will be there in our guidance and then to make the decision that keeps you and other people safe."

Swansea head coach Russell Martin says he cannot understand the situation when asked about the new rulings at his press conference on Wednesday.

He said: " It’s not normal, but I can’t really say too much. There’s so much contradiction in rules.

"So much change. We have to look at the science and what people are predicting, but there’s so much information and you don’t know what’s misinformation and what’s not.

"It’s been such a huge factor in everyone’s lives at the moment. I’m disappointed we’re not going to have supporters in and the fact we can take supporters to London where there’s a huge amount of cases doesn’t make a huge amount of sense."

"I’m sad about it for our supporters," he added.

"Frustrated for our supporters. Sad in general at the way the world’s been for the last two years. It’s not normal but it’s becoming normal. Told one jab for freedom, two jabs for freedom, now you need a booster. But it’s where we’re at at the moment and we have to deal with it and get on with it."

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