The Football Association of Wales have today announced their plans for the return of spectators to their matches.
The Welsh Government on Friday that crowds could return at sporting stadiums from June 7, holding up 4,000 spectators when not seated and 10,000 when seated.
Welsh football’s governing body has reacted to the news by allowing a crowd of up to 100 to watch junior and youth training sessions and matches.
For adult football, however, clubs will not be able to immediately admit spectators for their pre-season friendlies, despite initial guidance from the Welsh Government.
The FAW has opted to take a phased return for the return of spectators and over the next fortnight will run a series of pilot events that will help prepare its member clubs in acclimatising to COVID-19 restrictions.
Bosses at the FAW have taken the decision to create their own trial events as a result of their domestic games being snubbed by the Welsh Government.
Barry Town United, Caernarfon Town, and Penybont had all campaigned to allow spectators to their play-off matches, however, they were overlooked and instead, events went to Newport County and Swansea City.
Explaining their decision to first run test events, the FAW said: “There are many considerations for Clubs and it’s important that these are tested in a match environment, before a wider roll-out.
“These include entry and exits into the stadium through turnstiles, managing thoroughfares, temperature testing, and medical questionnaires, spectator code of conduct, ticketing, track, and trace, offering refreshments, maintaining social distancing, and protecting players.
“This is to encourage social distancing at all times. Spectating at football matches is a fundamental part of the sport and it’s important that people feel safe and comfortable at all times, whilst also ensuring that the risk of spread is minimised.”
All Welsh football clubs will have a cap of 100 imposed on them initially, however, clubs can apply on an individual basis to permit more.
Clubs will request a visit from FAW staff members to visit their ground in which members of the requested team would demonstrate that it could permit more fans, whilst ensuring social distancing could be met at all times.
The experience for fans when they are permitted to return will be different from when they last attended a match in March 2020.
Fans will be permitted to wear face masks, undergo a temperature check, as well as filling in a daily medical questionnaire which would see them agree to a COVID-19 Spectator Code of Conduct.
As a result, football clubs may be inclined to sell online ticket allocations, which could end the possibility of a walk-up crowd.
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