New national lockdown and football

The proposed national lockdown in England as earlier as next week is unlikely to have any effect on Premier League football as the show goes on.

The government plans for a new lockdown – maynbe from as early as Wednesday until December 1 – have been widely leaked in the media in the last twenty fours but schools will remain open and people will still be allowed to work if they cannot work from home

Football looks safe with strict medical protocols are in place for the Premier League with the players being tested every week and a 300 limit on the number of people allowed in stadiums while social distancing is observed.

Wales is already in a second lockdown in a bid to stop the spread of coronavirus and ease the pressures on the NHS.

That new lockdown has been variously described as a ‘fire break’ or ‘circuit break’ which began on October 23rd and ends on  November 9th.

During that lockdown, Welsh ‘ professional athletes have been allowed to continue competing and training in the “firebreak” lockdown, along with professional sports teams.

A Welsh Government statement said: “They [professional sportspeople] will have a reasonable excuse to leave home to travel to train, to compete and to access facilities.

“The regulations will allow a local authority or the Welsh Government to give permission for premises to open to provide facilities for those athletes during the firebreak period, as they will be required to remain closed to the general public. It is hoped Sport Wales can continue its role in defining and overseeing that cohort of professional athletes to ensure the access is available and strict protocols are followed.”

Championship football clubs Swansea and Cardiff City have continued to fulfil their fixture list.

Although yet to be confirmed in an official statement England is set to follow the same route and Elite sport will be allowed to continue.