Return of fans: FAW chief Howard issues statement as Cymru Premier snubbed for pilot event

The Football Association of Wales’ Head of Competitions, Andrew Howard, has expressed his disappointment after the Welsh Government snubbed their application to host supporters at their Cymru Premier play-off fixtures.

It was confirmed earlier today that pilot events, including Swansea City and Newport County’s respective Championship and League Two play-off matches, had been given the green light to allow a limited number of spectators to attend.

But the Cymru Premier, which sees its regular season conclude this weekend before European play-off matches begin on Saturday May 22, was not included in the list of permitted events.

Among the list of events to be given the go-ahead is Wales‘ EURO 2020 warm-up fixture with Albania at the Cardiff City Stadium on June 5, which will see 4,000 supporters in attendance.

The league was suspended between mid-December and March after a rise in COVID-19 cases saw its elite status revoked.

I’m pleased to see @CymruLeagues clubs, fans, media all showing solidarity following our sheer disappointment to news we are not a pilot event for supporters. We have always made ourselves available, we have proved to be a trusted partner but were told that the International

— Andrew Howard (@theandrewhoward) May 11, 2021

Howard tweeted: “I’m pleased to see Cymru Leagues clubs, fans, media all showing solidarity following our sheer disappointment to the news we are not a pilot event for supporters.

“We have always made ourselves available, we have proved to be a trusted partner but were told that the international would be the only football event. We even requested to replace an event when one withdrew, only to be told that “we need to focus on the eight events we have planned”.

“For a devolved Govt to then overlook our National League in favour of an English competition is gut-wrenching.”

(Featured Image: Lewis Mitchell)