FA PUBLISHES UPDATED SPECTATOR GUIDANCE

The FA has sent out updated guidance to allow spectators to attend non-league matches and have sent out the following news release:

The Football Association  has today issued updated guidelines for the National League System [NLS] and Women’s Football Pyramid [WFP] that include a phased and limited return of spectators for clubs at Steps 3-6 and Tiers 3-4 respectively.

The FA worked continuously alongside the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport [DCMS], the Sports Grounds Safety Authority [SGSA] and leagues to submit detailed proposals for a phased and limited return of spectators at these levels to the UK Government.

The DCMS has now clarified its guidance on the return to recreational team sport and clubs at Steps 3-6 of the NLS and Tiers 3-4 of the WFP are permitted to accommodate a phased and limited return of spectators to fixtures. However, they must follow the UK Government’s guidance in relation to Covid-19 and The FA’s updated guidelines for the NLS or WFP respectively.

In addition, Regional NLS Feeder League clubs and clubs at Tiers 5-6 of the WFP are permitted to accommodate socially-distanced spectators in line with The FA’s guidelines for grassroots football.

All clubs at Steps 3-6 of the NLS and Tiers 3-4 of the WFP are required to have a designated Covid-19 Officer; complete and publish bespoke risk assessments and action plans; and arrange support for Track and Trace efforts before implementing the following:

Stage One:

  • From 22 August 2020 to 30 August 2020, spectators are permitted to attend fixtures at Steps 3-6 of the NLS and Tiers 3-4 of the WFP, providing that their number does not exceed 15% of the minimum ground grading capacity [*see below] at these levels or respective figures set out within The FA’s updated guidelines;
  • If a club at these levels does not play any fixtures during this period, it must have played at least one pre-season or competitive fixture in accordance with its respective level of spectators before moving on to Stage Two.

Stage Two:

  • From 31 August 2020, clubs at Steps 3-6 of the NLS and Tiers 3-4 of the WFP will be permitted to allow spectators to attend fixtures provided that their number does not exceed 30% of the minimum ground grading capacity [*see below] at their level or the respective figures set out within The FA’s updated guidelines. However, they must be satisfied that they have been able to comply with the Government’s guidance on the return to recreational team sport and The FA’s updated guidelines.

The phased and limited return of spectators at these levels will be kept under constant review in line with the UK Government’s guidelines and will be amended accordingly as required.

Please see The FA’s updated guidelines for the NLS, WFP and grassroots for further information.

[* Explanatory note from the Ebac Northern League:  As far as the Ebac Northern League is concerned, those limits are 150 spectators for both divisions for games bewtween August 22-30 and 300 spectators for games from August 31 onwards.  No spectators should be permitted in to a game without the club completing and publishing a risk assessment.  Our divisions are at Step 5 and 6 respectively in the NLS.]