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Singing and shouting could be banned if supporters return

Public Health England is likely to insist that supporters should avoid singing, chanting or shouting at football stadia when fans are allowed back. Restrictions are likely to continue until a vaccine is widely available for the virus.

The guidelines are likely to follow similar rules for places of worship which already say ‘People should avoid singing, shouting, raising voices and/or playing music at a volume that makes normal conversation difficult or that may encourage shouting. This is because of the potential for increased risk of transmission from aerosol and droplets.’

Pubs opened last Saturday but they have been told to keep the volume down if they show any live football games.

The latest government guidance does not ban football explicitly – but it does ban broadcasts where the volume is too high so that people may be forced to shout (or cheer) over each other. That means football will be allowed at pubs but only at low volumes – possibly with the commentary switched off – and anyone reacting loudly to the game will be asked to keep it down. Buried in the new rules on opening the hospitality sector, the government says all venues “should ensure that steps are taken to avoid people needing to unduly raise their voices to each other. This includes, but is not limited to, refraining from playing music or broadcasts that may encourage shouting, including if played at a volume that makes normal conversation difficult.”

The Premier League could return as early as September but it is yet unknown whether there will be restrictions on public gatherings or insistence that sports stadium reduce capacity to aid social distancing.

 

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

5 comments on “Singing and shouting could be banned if supporters return

  1. LoL. Tennis anyone?

  2. What’s the point of going.
    They can’t do security checks, no disrespect but I’m not getting frisked by someone who could be infected, and distancing will have us queuing back to green street.
    Can’t shout, can’t stand, watch in silence, and we pay for the privilege of all this.
    TV has realised that their spectacle is dead without fans, as I reckon have the sponsors…
    I don’t know many that will bother, people are disillusioned with the club / ground as it is.
    How will the lower leagues that have mainly standing open, the game is on the brink.

  3. like this would work lol. you have to question the person who comes up with this stuff

  4. Listen in a life long hammer , over land a sea and all that. So when the lads kick off , it will be seconds before we hear bubbles , chants etc . Believe me the love for my team and that of most our fans dictates we have to sing , it’s what the passion is about ! COYI , a win tomorrow please lads ⚒

  5. it’s very sensible to be very sensible. it’s also naive to expect that this could happen. wear a mask, workshop safety specs, stay away from each others’ faces and sing your heads off. failing that, how loud can you hum “bubbles”?

    p.s. I’VE GOT IT!! everyone gets a free megaphone at the gates. THE LOUDEST WHISPER EVER HEARD!!! COYI ⚒

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