November 4 – More than 100,000 people have so far signed a petition calling for grassroots football to be allowed to continue during the English national lockdown.
From tomorrow, everyone is one again being asked not to leave their homes except for essential reasons in a bid to contain the spread of coronavirus.
English football authorities have confirmed that most lower-tier and grassroots football will be suspended though elite sport can continue behind closed doors, plunging scores of clubs into jeopardy and affecting the wellbeing of thousands of fans and amateur players.
Campaigners are urging the government to allow grassroots football for children to be exempt, citing the benefits of outdoor exercise and the low risk of Covid-19 transmission.
The petition states: “Football is a powerful tool of which allows a range of benefits such as employment, and other important aspects of life. Football can be associated with passion, emotion, excitement and dedication across the community. With Fans attending football games a range of economic benefits are there too.”
In response to the petition, the Government countered: “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 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.”
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