Welsh football fans may have to wait until next year to attend fixtures
Cardiff, Wales 13/10/19. General View of the Cardiff City Stadium. Wales v Croatia UEFA Euro 2020 Qualifier at the Cardiff City Stadium. Lewis Mitchell/YCPD/Alamy Live News.
Welsh football fans may not be able to attend home fixtures until the new year.
Wales’ First Minister Mark Drakeford has admitted he did not expect mass gatherings such as sports events and concerts to resume in the country until next year.
A potential second wave of the coronavirus in the Autumn could put a stop to a return of spectators to football matches.
“They are right at the very end of this spectrum, a long way off,” said Drakeford to iNews.co.uk.
“The coronavirus crisis hit us just as the days were getting longer and just as the weather was getting better.
“The autumn will be the opposite, the days will be getting colder, shorter and damper and coronavirus likes the dark, the damp and the cold.
“We can’t possibly put ourselves in the position when we are running extra risks when the intrinsic risks of the virus may be more dangerous.”
A ban on spectators could see up to six senior Wales matches played behind closed doors unless they are rescheduled.
Ryan Giggs’ side are pencilled in to play Bulgaria in September along with a home doubleheader against Finland and Ireland in November in the UEFA Nations League.
The Welsh Women’s national team have three UEFA Women’s EURO 2021 qualifying home fixtures scheduled from October to December.
In addition to the potential of behind closed doors matches, Wales’ domestic season has yet to set a date for its return.
The 2019/20 season was curtailed last month and no deadline has been set for the registration period for amateur and professional clubs.
(Featured Image: Lewis Mitchell)
