REVEALED: Premier League clubs expecting up to 500 away fans to return to stadiums for the last two games of the season
- Premier League clubs are preparing for up to 10,000 fans to watch final games
- Public Health England yesterday agreed to let away fans join the party
- Top flight rules require up to 10 per cent of the stadium capacity to be provided for away fans but actual number will be determined by local safety authorities
Premier League clubs have been told to prepare for up to 500 away fans during the last two rounds of matches this season.
Sportsmail understands that Public Health England signed off on the principle of away fans at fixtures this season, on Thursday.
It marks a victory for the Premier League, which has been working hard to overcome scepticism among officials about the return of away supporters
Under the government’s roadmap out of lockdown, clubs are preparing to allow up to 10,000 fans to return to stadiums – or 25 per cent of the capacity – which ever is lower.
Premier League chief executive Richard Masters has written to clubs to advise them that the government is prepared to relax the ‘no away fans’ stipulation in current guidance, according to The Times.
Premier League rules require clubs to allow away fans access to 10 per cent of the stadium capacity, up to a maximum of 3,000.
However, the top flight has proposed to reduce that requirement to five per cent in order to encourage the local safety authorities to approve the move.
For every game, a Safety Advisory Group (SAG), which includes representatives of the club, emergency services for the area and the local council, must approve the plans for the match, including the attendance of away supporters.
A source close to the negotiations over away fans told Sportsmail that in reality the number of away fans in attendance at matches would be ‘piecemeal’ across the country, as SAGs will take a different view in different areas.