Nottingham Forest have responded to calls for the club to allow a terminally ill fan to watch the Reds in action, saying they are seeking an amendment to current legislation.
Lifelong supporter Steve Brough has terminal cancer and has been told he has a few weeks to live.
He would like to watch Forest play at the City Ground for one final time, but has been unable to do so because matches continue to take place behind closed doors due to the coronavirus pandemic.
A campaign on social media has been launched to seek permission for the 52-year-old to get to a game, with actor - and Derby County fan - Robert Lindsay offering his support.
Forest have issued a statement saying current regulations do not allow supporters to attend matches, “even in these very sad circumstances”.
The club say they share fans’ frustrations over the matter and have held “positive discussions” with the English Football League as they seek discretion to “permit entry in exceptional circumstances”.
The statement said: “The club is aware of comment regarding attendance at matches for supporters who are suffering from terminal conditions.
“These are heartbreaking stories common to all elite sports during the pandemic where the non attendance of crowds has been made a requirement for the right to continue to play.
“The current legislation is clear and does not allow fan attendance at games even in these very sad circumstances. This has been confirmed by the Safety Advisory Group (SAG) which is the statutory body which controls the ability of the club to play.
“It follows that until the legislation is changed the club has no choice but to refuse these requests.
“The club shares the frustration of supporters about the current legal position. It believes that all elite clubs should be given a discretion in conjunction with its local SAG to permit such attendance in strictly confined and exceptional circumstances.
“The club has had positive discussions with the EFL on this issue over the weekend and an urgent request will be made to the relevant government authorities for the legislation to be amended to permit clubs and their SAG to have a discretion to permit entry in exceptional circumstances.”
Mr Brough has said the opportunity to watch the Reds for the final time would "mean the world".
Former My Family star Lindsay wrote on Twitter: “Being born in between Derby and Nottingham and a lifelong supporter of the Rams never let it be said a Ram could not support a Forest fan his last wish. Cmon Forest.”
