The UK Government has agreed to debate the return of football supporters to stadiums after an online petition received over 100,000 signatures.
The petition created by football fan Ashley Greenwood has now reached over 196,000 names and the Government have agreed to debate it in the UK parliament on 9th November.
The petition says ‘Football is a powerful tool of which allows a range of benefits such as employment, and other important aspects of life. Football can be associated with passion, emotion, excitement and dedication across the community. With Fans attending football games a range of economic benefits are there too.’
‘Due to the current issues around COVID places such as France and Germany now allow a percentage of fans to return to football games. I ask for the support of this petition as I fear that smaller clubs, in particular, will go out of business leading to a devastating effect on people. This petition is to ask the government to reconsider their judgement on not letting football fans back into the stadiums and reconsider doing this with the right safety measures in place surrounding the COVID-19.’
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/552036
West Ham Vice-Chairman Karren Brady who is also a life peer sitting in the House of Lords as Baroness Brady of Knightsbridge has also been campaigning and challenging the government in her weekly Sun column for the safe return of supporters as Premier League clubs continue to lose £80m per month in lost ticket revenue.
ClaretandHugh says: We all understand the passion behind the petition and nearly 200,000 names on any such document is impressive. But let’s be honest, it is not going to make a scrap of difference at a time when a three tier national restrictions process process has been put in place by the government and the threat of a two week national lockdown has emerged. How football can expect to be made an exception in such circumstances is unfathomable. There’s much truth in the old saying: ‘Nothing ventured, nothing gained’ except in this case. Not gonna happen!
Completely agree, Sean. Nice sentiment to get the fans back. Also be nice for lots of other things, too. But – should never happen. We have to contain and beat this Coronavirus first before finding ingenious ways around any restrictions or defying the authorities just for the sake of defiance. Might be some good news in a couple of weeks. Until then, buckle down and stay at home.
We’ll get through this – nobody can give a timetable yet or anytime under these circumstances. BUT we will get through this together. Look after ourselves and the recovery follows.
COYI