Wembley could welcome small number of fans for FA Cup final - but only on one condition
Posted Sunday, May 31, 2020 by Express.co.uk
The FA Cup final could have a small number of spectators present, dependent on certain criteria.
Wembley could welcome small number of fans for FA Cup final - but only on one condition (Image: GETTY)
The FA Cup final could become the first match in England to welcome fans back into a stadium for nearly six months when it is held in August. Elite football in the country has been on hold since March 13 due to the coronavirus outbreak, though the Premier League is due to return on June 17 and the Championship may follow soon after.
The British government have green-lighted the return of behind-closed-doors sporting events from June 1.
Though Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden told a Downing Street press conference on Saturday: "For a sporting-loving nation, today really is a significant milestone.
"We won't be sitting in the stands for a while and things will be very different to what we're used to but live sport will be back on our screens next week.
"The British sporting recovery has begun."
It was thought crowds will not be able to return to Premier League stadiums until a vaccine for COVID-19 has been distributed.
Wembley could welcome small number of fans for FA Cup final - but only on one condition (Image: GETTY)
That could mean as long as another 12 months with matches behind held in empty venues.
But according to the Daily Mirror, the Football Association are exploring plans to allow a maximum of 10,000 fans from each team to support their side in the FA Cup final.
The 90,000 capacity within the stadium means it is viable that fans could maintain social-distancing measures at the match.
The final is seen as a potential trial for fans to return, though will only be considered on one key condition.
That's if the coronavirus infection rate within the United Kingdom drops below 0.5 by the time of the final, which has been provisionally pencilled in for August 1.
The latest infection rate for the UK as a whole is said to be between 0.7 and 09, according to the Sage group of advisors.
But senior Wembley officials are said to be confident there is enough space within and outside of the stadium to be able to stick to government guidelines.
London's coronavirus numbers are in steeper decline than the rest of the country and the arena would only be 25 per cent full at a maximum.
The UK are steadily easing lockdown restrictions already and as of next week, as many as six people from two different households will be able to exercise together if they stay two metres apart.
While the Premier League could be impacted for another 12 months due to fears of a second spike of COVID-19 infections and deaths, football authorities are hopeful of getting the go-ahead for a phased experiment to allow small numbers of fans into stadiums.
Wembley could welcome small number of fans for FA Cup final - but only on one condition (Image: GETTY)
The FA Cup final is seen as the ideal trial match and it is hoped, if successful, it could allow for a slow reintegration of supporters back into grounds.
English football's governing body are not said to be looking into allowing fans at Wembley for the semi-finals of the competition, however.
Earlier this week, the FA announced plans for its quarter-finals to take place on the weekend of June 27-28.
The semi-finals will then be held at Wembley on July 18-19 with the final two weeks' later.
The FA's chief executive officer Mark Bullingham said: "We are pleased to agree the provisional restart date for the 2019-20 Emirates FA Cup.
"The competition has been an integral part of the English football calendar for nearly 150 years, and we’d like to thank the Premier League executive and clubs for their support in scheduling the remaining matches during this unprecedented time.
"This has been a difficult period for many people and, while this is a positive step, the restart date is dependent on all safety measures being met. The health and wellbeing of players, staff and supporters remains our priority.”
The last eight of the FA Cup is made up entirely of Premier League teams, with the quarters having been drawn back on March 9.
Leicester City are due to host Chelsea, with Newcastle taking on the holders of the competition, Manchester United.
Arsenal travel to Sheffield United while Norwich City welcome Manchester United.
All of the matches are to be held at the grounds of the home teams.
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