Government gives green light for football to return in June

The government have this afternoon published a 50-page document for lifting restrictions in England which would allow the Premier League restart on June 1st if it so wishes. The guide for exiting the lockdown has been released with social distancing measures to remain in place as various activities are resumed across the country.

Step two of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s “roadmap” clears the way for current football season get back underway next month, with all remaining fixtures set to be played behind closed doors until public safety can be guaranteed.

The new document has been titled ‘Our Plan to Rebuild: The UK Government’s Recovery Strategy’, and the lifting of restrictions is conditional upon the continued adherence to protocols which have been put in place to contain the spread of the virus by saying “…permitting cultural and sporting events to take place behind-closed-doors for broadcast, while avoiding the risk of large-scale social contact” could take place from the start of next month.

Whether or not supporters will be able to attend matches before the end of the campaign remains unclear, as step three proposes a reopening of venues such as cinemas and hairdressers in July, but also includes the following warning: “Some venues which are, by design, crowded and where it may prove difficult to enact distancing may still not be able to reopen safely at this point, or may be able to open safely only in part. Nevertheless, the Government will wish to open as many businesses and public places as the data and information at the time allows.

“In order to facilitate the fastest possible reopening of these types of higher-risk businesses and public places, the Government will carefully phase and pilot reopenings to test their ability to adopt the new secure guidelines.”

“The Government will also monitor carefully the effects of reopening other similar establishments elsewhere in the world, as this happens.

“The Government will establish a series of task forces to work closely with stakeholders in these sectors to develop ways in which they can make these businesses and public places secure.”

The 50-page document can be read in full HEREĀ 

 

About Sean Whetstone

I am Season Ticket Holder in West stand lower at the London Stadium and before that, I used to stand in the Sir Trevor Brooking Lower Row R seat 159 in the Boleyn Ground and in the Eighties I stood on the terraces of the old South Bank. I am a presenter on the West Ham Podcast called MooreThanJustaPodcast.co.uk. A Blogger on WestHamTillIdie.com a member of the West Ham Supporters Advisory Board (SAB), Founder of a Youtube channel called Mr West Ham Football at http://www.youtube.com/MrWestHamFootball, I am also the associate editor here at Claret and Hugh. Life Long singer of bubbles! Come on you Irons! Follow me at @Westhamfootball on twitter