{"id":565911,"date":"2020-09-15T10:36:42","date_gmt":"2020-09-15T14:36:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/?p=565911"},"modified":"2020-09-15T10:36:42","modified_gmt":"2020-09-15T14:36:42","slug":"efl-clubs-given-green-light-for-pilot-event","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2020\/09\/15\/efl-clubs-given-green-light-for-pilot-event\/","title":{"rendered":"EFL Clubs Given Green Light for 1,000 Fan Pilot Event This Weekend"},"content":{"rendered":"

EFL clubs will allow up to 1,000 fans into stadiums this weekend in a pilot event that sees spectators to professional football matches for the first time in six months.<\/p>\n

Pilot Event Given Green Light<\/h2>\n

EFL Spectators Given Go-Ahead to Return to Matches in Pilot Event<\/h3>\n

Fans of English football will be allowed to return to matches in the EFL for the first time since March, after a trial to allow up to 1,000 spectators into matches was given the go-ahead by the government.<\/p>\n

Football has been played behind closed doors across the UK because of the coronavirus pandemic, but the trial offers renewed hope for fans to attend live matches.<\/p>\n

Per Sky Sports<\/a>, an EFL spokesman stated: “The EFL remains in discussions with the government about the pilot programme which may include a limited number of further pilot matches during September with capacity limited to 1,000.<\/p>\n

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“The league is clear in its view that social distancing can be applied safely in football stadia and that having crowds at matches is an absolutely essential part of helping to protect club finances, which remain under extreme pressure. Therefore, the successful delivery of further pilots will be an important step towards getting larger number of fans into grounds safely.<\/div>\n
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“The EFL will continue its dialogue with DCMS and the SGSA to ensure that evidence and insight secured from these events helps to inform the government’s position on welcoming back supporters post October 1.”<\/div>\n
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The government’s approval will be news welcomed by fans and their teams alike.<\/div>\n
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Clubs across the Championship<\/a>, League One and League Two<\/a> have lost an estimated \u00a3250 million in match-day revenue because of the lengthy absence of supporters.<\/div>\n
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With the 2020\/21 season kicking off last weekend, the second round of EFL fixtures gets underway on Friday, as Coventry City host QPR in the Championship at 19:45 BST.<\/div>\n
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Main Photo<\/div>\n

Embed from Getty Images<\/a>