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Belfast Live
Belfast Live
Sport
Gareth Fullerton

NI Football League to review position on fans attending games

The Northern Ireland Football League is set to review its position on spectators attending matches.

A limited number of fans were permitted to attend last weekend's opening fixtures in the Danske Bank Premiership.

On average, clubs are currently only allowed to use 15 per cent of their ground capacity for home games.

Concerns have been raised in the past week over the attendance of fans at elite sporting events.

Communities Minister Caral Ni Chuilin this week asked sporting bodies to stop allowing spectators into matches after taking advice from the chief medical officer and the chief scientific officer.

Ulster Rugby and the GAA have already said they will play without fans during the current period of Covid-19 restrictions.

Ulster said they will review their position at the end of the current lockdown.

In a statement released on Thursday night, the NI Football League said it would conduct its own review, but said this weekend's Premiership games would go ahead with spectators in attendance.

"The NI Football League Board note the recent actions of other sports and the comments from the Chief Medical Officer and Chief Scientific Advisor in relation to spectators," the statement read.

"We wish to take a responsible leadership approach to the COVID-19 crisis and will consult with all NIFL Premiership clubs, and relevant authorities, at the earliest opportunity, to review the position on spectators.

"For the avoidance of doubt, games scheduled for this weekend (23/24 October) in the Danske Bank Premiership will continue with spectators in line with stringent protocols."

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