Petition nears 5000 signatures calling for restart of Welsh football
Port Talbot Town v Aberystwyth Town at Victoria Road in the Welsh Premier Women's League on the 27th September 2020. Lewis Mitchell/PTT/YCPD.
A new petition has been setup in the hope of a wide scale return of Welsh domestic football.
Set up by Cambrian & Clydach Vale committee member Mark Morgans, the petition is calling on the Welsh Government to raise the amount of people for an outdoor gathering.
The current legislation in place allows for 30 people, however, Wales is currently in a national lockdown, meaning only essential work can take place.
Wales is due to exit the lockdown next Monday, allowing for the Cymru Premier and Welsh Premier Women’s League to restart after a two-week break, albeit in a behind-closed-doors setting.
Top flight clubs in Wales are permitted to play as part of Sport Wales’ ‘elite’ programme.
Teams below the Cymru Premier and the Welsh Premier Women’s League have been in training and taken part in intra-squad friendlies, but
Before lockdown, some clubs played friendly matches but were made to play with just one substitute, coach and a physio.
In the hope of any league season taking place, the petition calls on a relaxation of the rules. The description on the Senedd Petitions website reads: “The current rules/ legislation only allows 30 people to be in an outdoor space.
“With football teams needing 11v11 plus officials and staff, it’s pretty impossible to run competitive adult leagues until this number is lifted!
“Games can be run safely and effectively if the number is increased to 30 people not including the players and officials on the field.
“Please liaise with the Football Association of Wales and consider raising the numbers so Tier Two and below can start playing again.”
Should the petition reach more than 5,000 then it will be considered for a debate in the Senedd.
Last month, a number of MS’ in Wales discussed the return of football in Wales, as well as the possibility of spectators returning.
