EFL Chief Executive Trevor Birch has issued a statement in reaction to the news that member clubs could be able to welcome capacity crowds in time for the 2021/22 season opener in early August.
Speaking at a briefing on Monday evening, Prime Minister Boris Johnson revealed that he expects some of the current capacity restrictions to be lifted later this month, as the nation looks to return to some level of normality.
Speaking at a briefing on Monday evening, Prime Minister Boris Johnson revealed that he expects some of the current capacity restrictions to be lifted later this month, as the nation looks to return to some level of normality.
The ongoing Covid-19 crisis has forced football, and other sports clubs up and down the nation, behind closed doors as the public were urged to stay at home in a bid to tackle the pandemic which has resulted in millions of deaths worldwide.
In a statement, released via the EFL's Twitter account, Birch confirms; The EFL welcomes today's positive announcement by the Prime Minister that capacity restrictions are expected to be lifted later this month, which will allow us to finally press forward with our plans to see a full return of fans to EFL stadiums from the start of the new EFL season in just four weeks' time.
Football has been planning for this outcome since the outset of the pandemic and having been forced to endure empty stadiums since March 2020, the message from EFL Clubs is that we are ready to re-open and welcome fans back in numbers.
From the EFL's own participation in the Events Research Programme and our Club's extensive experience built up over many years, we are confident that all our Clubs can successfully manage large scale events, and we will continue to work with the Government on the guidance that will help support their matchday operations.
Today's developments, of course, have been made possible by the staff at the NHS and countless medical experts and scientists who have helped develop and roll-out the vaccines.
On behalf of the League and its membership, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for playing such an important role in helping re-open our sport and wider society.