It’s the Christmas present none of us asked for and nobody wanted, but many of us feared we’d get anyway.
Yep, starting on Boxing Day, football in Wales will once again disappear behind closed doors.
It’s a bitter blow for fans who had every right to believe these types of measures were now a thing of the past.
But last week, the Welsh Government confirmed the dreaded news that sport in Wales will be played in empty stadiums for the foreseeable future.
This is in response to a sudden spike in Covid-19 cases and fears that a potential surge in hospitalisations could overwhelm the NHS, although it should be pointed out that there are currently fewer Covid-19 patients in Welsh ICU beds than at any point since August.
So it's back to watching all our football through online streams, without any of the atmosphere which adds so much to the sport we love. A return to the soulless monotony of last season, without our cherished match-day rituals.
READ MORE: The Swansea City stars to benefit most under Russell Martin as others slip off radar
I'm not a scientist and the experts influencing these decisions are basing recommendations on complex projections which take into account countless different factors. I'm therefore not going to pass judgement on whether these new restrictions are justified or not. All I know is that they're triggering a depressing sense of déjà vu for those of us who are fanatical about the beautiful game.
For many people football is part and parcel of the festive period so this news will come as a major disappointment. As things stand, fans will still be able to cross the border to watch away matches, but there's something so special about walking up to your home ground at this time of year, and that has not been possible.
There's usually a unique feeling as fans congregate in high spirits, decked out in all the new clothes Santa brought them, the frosty air creating a wonderful seasonal vibe.
Missing out on these games is a real downer and the fact we have no idea when the restrictions will be lifted only adds to the misery of it all.
Fans are now facing up to the grim reality that they will once again again be locked out of their home grounds. This is nothing new, it's the way things have been for most of the past two years but this decision has hit us all particularly hard because in many ways it goes beyond football.
This Christmas was meant to be different. The last two years have been so difficult but there was a feeling that we were finally on the road to normality, that we would finally be able to move on and start afresh in the new year.
But these new restrictions have brought us all crashing down to earth with an almighty bump.
Just when the entire country thought we were moving on from this ordeal, we get a clear and unambiguous message that this whole thing is far from over. It's as if a bungee cord is tied to our waists, allowing us to run only so far before yanking us back.
Christmas and the new year celebrations are often seen as a time of new beginnings and a chance to look ahead with renewed optimism. After everything this world has been through during the pandemic, I think we needed that more than ever this year.
Alas, that feeling has undoubtedly been dampened by the past week's news cycle. The new year hasn't even started yet and already it feels like 2022 could just be more of the same.
The latest announcement goes beyond cancelling crowds at sporting events or limiting the number of people you can meet in a pub or restaurant. It's a dispiriting indication that we still have to wait for the clean break we all desperately needed.
This Christmas was meant to be different, the one where we returned to normal, but clearly that's not possible.
All we can do is hope that these measures succeed in keeping hospitalisations low, enabling these restrictions to be lifted as soon as possible. Perhaps then we can finally stop the false dawns and move on for good.
For the latest Swansea City news and analysis delivered straight to your inbox, you can sign up for our newsletter here.
.png?w=600)
