The rise in Corona cases suspends a possible return of the fans to the British stadiums

British Minister of State Michael Gove announced today that the plan that allows the temporary and partial return of the masses to the stadiums in various sports in the country will be suspended from the first of October, due to the sharp increase in cases of people infected with the new Corona virus.

Some tests were held in various competitions, where a maximum of 1,000 people were allowed to be in the stands, as an experiment for the return of the masses on a larger scale as of the beginning of next month.

However, Gove considered that "reopening (stadiums) to large numbers" will not be appropriate at the present time, which is a major setback for sports federations and clubs that suffer severe financial repercussions as a result of "Covid-19".

He said in an interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation "BBC": "We were looking at a staging program for the return of more fans, but it was never about stadiums full of fans."

"We are currently looking at how to stop this program temporarily, but what we want to do is ensure the return of more fans as soon as conditions permit," he said.

Most of the matches in Britain, including the Premier League, have closed behind closed doors since they resumed earlier this year following a forced hiatus due to the pandemic.

Sports officials have warned of massive losses due to stalled revenue from ticket sales.

And press reports indicated that leaders from more than 100 federations sent a written letter to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson requesting emergency funding.

The Executive Director of the Premier League, Richard Masters, stressed earlier this month the importance of a close return of the fans to the stadiums, given the huge losses that the clubs face.

"We have to get the fans back to the stadium as soon as possible - this is the big thing that is missing, economically or otherwise - we need fans again inside the stadiums for all the reasons, and it is the first priority," he told the BBC.

He added, "I think there may be a vision for the League's economy that can withstand almost anything, but if you lose 700 million pounds from the planned budget, it will affect things and the clubs have to make some very difficult decisions."

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