" UK Government says no timeframe on when fans can return "
Mon Nov 09, 2020 8:44 pm
By Dan Roan
Monday 9th November 2020
The government has refused to say when it expects spectators to be allowed back inside sports venues in England.
Speaking at a parliamentary debate on the issue, Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston said he wanted it to happen "as soon as it is safe to do so".
But despite requests from MPs, he declined to provide a precise roadmap for sports.
Almost 200,000 people have signed petitions calling for fans to be able to return.
Nearly all elite sport in England has taken place behind closed doors since March.
"One of the challenges we've got is… everyone saying 'can I get back to my stadia?'" Huddleston said.
"You times that by multiple levels, multiple leagues and sports, and all of a sudden we've got a whole scale which is far beyond what we believe is acceptable at this moment in time.
"But the point made by several members today, that a 'one size fits all' [approach] may not be appropriate, is something we're looking at.
"A key issue is that this is not just about fans sitting in stands inside the stadia… but we must consider the whole fan journey as well, from home to venue, considering how fans travel to and from stadia, and the risk of gatherings in and out these venues, and a high number of contact points that this risks.
"We do keep a very close eye on what is happening in other countries."
Speaking at a meeting of the cross-party Petitions Committee, Huddleston was asked by Shadow Sports Minister Alison McGovern when government-backed pilots with limited numbers of spectators in attendance may resume.
Plans for a partial and staged return of fans from 1 October were suspended after a rise in the number of coronavirus cases.
However, at the same time London's O2 Arena announced 4,700 people would be able to attend a concert in December.
The Royal Albert Hall will also welcome audiences of up to 2,500 back for a number of concerts this Christmas with one senior source from within football telling BBC Sport: "The inconsistency in the approach is stark and illogical."
McGovern said: "I worry that (sports) have been left hanging a bit.
"The position that football has been put in compared to other large events is hard to understand.
"We were on a journey and the process needs to be completed. So can he say when he anticipates that happening?"
Huddleston replied: "We want to get pilots back and fans back into stadia as soon as possible.
"We've had a plan from very early on in lockdown. And it's been stated and it's out there, and what we've had to do on a couple of occasions unfortunately is press the pause button. But we want to get back to the plan as soon as we can."
Last month the English Football League rejected a £50m bail-out offer from the Premier League. The heads of both organisations, along with the chairman of the Football Association, will appear in front of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport committee on Tuesday.
"There is plenty of money in football, but it's not distributed in the right way," said Huddleston.
"For the good of the sport, they must come to an arrangement. It's not acceptable for public money to be bailing out elite football.
"I do recognise they each have stakeholders who are difficult to deal with but I do appeal to them to come to a compromise as soon as possible."
The minister said the DCMS was in the "final stages" of discussions with the Treasury over a rescue package for other sports facing an unprecedented financial crisis because of the pandemic.
Monday 9th November 2020
The government has refused to say when it expects spectators to be allowed back inside sports venues in England.
Speaking at a parliamentary debate on the issue, Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston said he wanted it to happen "as soon as it is safe to do so".
But despite requests from MPs, he declined to provide a precise roadmap for sports.
Almost 200,000 people have signed petitions calling for fans to be able to return.
Nearly all elite sport in England has taken place behind closed doors since March.
"One of the challenges we've got is… everyone saying 'can I get back to my stadia?'" Huddleston said.
"You times that by multiple levels, multiple leagues and sports, and all of a sudden we've got a whole scale which is far beyond what we believe is acceptable at this moment in time.
"But the point made by several members today, that a 'one size fits all' [approach] may not be appropriate, is something we're looking at.
"A key issue is that this is not just about fans sitting in stands inside the stadia… but we must consider the whole fan journey as well, from home to venue, considering how fans travel to and from stadia, and the risk of gatherings in and out these venues, and a high number of contact points that this risks.
"We do keep a very close eye on what is happening in other countries."
Speaking at a meeting of the cross-party Petitions Committee, Huddleston was asked by Shadow Sports Minister Alison McGovern when government-backed pilots with limited numbers of spectators in attendance may resume.
Plans for a partial and staged return of fans from 1 October were suspended after a rise in the number of coronavirus cases.
However, at the same time London's O2 Arena announced 4,700 people would be able to attend a concert in December.
The Royal Albert Hall will also welcome audiences of up to 2,500 back for a number of concerts this Christmas with one senior source from within football telling BBC Sport: "The inconsistency in the approach is stark and illogical."
McGovern said: "I worry that (sports) have been left hanging a bit.
"The position that football has been put in compared to other large events is hard to understand.
"We were on a journey and the process needs to be completed. So can he say when he anticipates that happening?"
Huddleston replied: "We want to get pilots back and fans back into stadia as soon as possible.
"We've had a plan from very early on in lockdown. And it's been stated and it's out there, and what we've had to do on a couple of occasions unfortunately is press the pause button. But we want to get back to the plan as soon as we can."
Last month the English Football League rejected a £50m bail-out offer from the Premier League. The heads of both organisations, along with the chairman of the Football Association, will appear in front of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport committee on Tuesday.
"There is plenty of money in football, but it's not distributed in the right way," said Huddleston.
"For the good of the sport, they must come to an arrangement. It's not acceptable for public money to be bailing out elite football.
"I do recognise they each have stakeholders who are difficult to deal with but I do appeal to them to come to a compromise as soon as possible."
The minister said the DCMS was in the "final stages" of discussions with the Treasury over a rescue package for other sports facing an unprecedented financial crisis because of the pandemic.
Re: " UK Government says no timeframe on when fans can retur
Mon Nov 09, 2020 8:55 pm
Sadly, even with a vaccine,which they say is on the way,and 90% effective,it will be the frontline workers, such as hospital staff,police etc,that will get ot first,then the infirm/vulnerable at risk,then it will be end of season,bedore complete rolll out.
Cant see fans in any big numbers,being allowed back,sad but likely imho.
Cant see fans in any big numbers,being allowed back,sad but likely imho.
Re: " UK Government says no timeframe on when fans can retur
Mon Nov 09, 2020 9:03 pm
bluesince62 wrote:Sadly, even with a vaccine,which they say is on the way,and 90% effective,it will be the frontline workers, such as hospital staff,police etc,that will get ot first,then the infirm/vulnerable at risk,then it will be end of season,bedore complete rolll out.
Cant see fans in any big numbers,being allowed back,sad but likely imho.
It'd be a nice thank you to allow them NHS etc workers to go to the games then if that happens.
Re: " UK Government says no timeframe on when fans can retur
Mon Nov 09, 2020 9:59 pm
CCFCJosh75 wrote:bluesince62 wrote:Sadly, even with a vaccine,which they say is on the way,and 90% effective,it will be the frontline workers, such as hospital staff,police etc,that will get ot first,then the infirm/vulnerable at risk,then it will be end of season,bedore complete rolll out.
Cant see fans in any big numbers,being allowed back,sad but likely imho.
It'd be a nice thank you to allow them NHS etc workers to go to the games then if that happens.
Cant argue with that.
Re: " UK Government says no timeframe on when fans can retur
Tue Nov 10, 2020 12:00 am
Spring 2021 when vaccination takes hold.
When else can it be?
When else can it be?
Re: " UK Government says no timeframe on when fans can retur
Tue Nov 10, 2020 12:29 am
maccydee wrote:Spring 2021 when vaccination takes hold.
When else can it be?
Would be nice,but cant see it myself,the first batch will be for NHS staff,and that is likely to be new year sometime,then it will be the most vulnerable people,front line staff etc,fit people not likely to get it before summer time I'd say,if then.would love to be wrong,as there is nothing like the feeling of match day
Re: " UK Government says no timeframe on when fans can retur
Tue Nov 10, 2020 9:22 am
I would say forget this season but next season August ticket sales should go through the roof
So i think it'll be tv for the remainder of this season
So i think it'll be tv for the remainder of this season
Re: " UK Government says no timeframe on when fans can retur
Tue Nov 10, 2020 10:32 am
bluesince62 wrote:maccydee wrote:Spring 2021 when vaccination takes hold.
When else can it be?
Would be nice,but cant see it myself,the first batch will be for NHS staff,and that is likely to be new year sometime,then it will be the most vulnerable people,front line staff etc,fit people not likely to get it before summer time I'd say,if then.would love to be wrong,as there is nothing like the feeling of match day
I think we might be surprised.
I hold out more hope for the AstraZeneca/Oxford Uni one. The Pfizer one is ahead no doubt about that but not by much and the Astra Zeneca is being produced in the UK. Far easier to transport etc.
I had a flu jab couple of weeks back at my RAF med centre and was told that they have been told to put on late night vaccination sessions from early December. They are going to get everyone in on this. It’s not an exaggeration to say it has crippled this country and they want normality ASAP.
I think by Spring a lot of people who want to be vaccinated will be vaccinated.