Bring Back The Fans: Government wants supporters to return to stadiums as soon as it is safe

The Government has committed to getting spectators back “at the earliest opportunity”, after a petition to allow football fans to attend matches at every level reached nearly 200,000 signatures.

Pressure is mounting for the return of paying fans inside grounds as clubs in football and other sports feel the increasing financial pressures of no paying customers.

On Thursday, the Government responded to the petitioners, saying: “We will take the earliest opportunity to look again at getting spectators safely back into stadia, but this must clearly be done carefully against the prevailing health conditions.

"We are committed to getting spectators back into stadia as soon as it is safe to do so.”

Manchester United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward added his weight to the argument for having fans back in the Premier League, saying: “While the situation in Greater Manchester and the UK as a whole continues to evolve, our plans for this are well advanced and we are confident of ours and the whole League’s ability to welcome [fans] back in a safe environment.”