Prime Minister Boris Johnson has confirmed that restrictions on attendances at sporting events will be lifted once the United Kingdom moves to step four of the Covid lockdown roadmap on July 19.
Johnson revealed that the success of the vaccine rollout across the country was the main reason behind moving to the final stage of the roadmap, which will be subject to one last review on July 12.
Social distancing measures will also be scrapped, which will further allow football stadiums to re-open at maximum capacity in time for the start of the 2021/22 season.
Johnson also confirmed that the public will not need certification or proof of vaccination in order to attend these events, a measure that was speculated may have been introduced in order to control the virus in recent months.
17 of the current Premier League clubs played their final home games of the 2020/21 season in front of reduced capacities, while Brentford competed in three playoff matches with returning fans. Norwich City and Watford are the only top-flight sides who have now exclusively played behind closed doors in 2021.
Fans have been allowed back into Wembley Stadium during Euro 2020. Roughly 20,000 people were in attendance for England's three group games against Croatia, Scotland and the Czech Republic, while just over 40,000 witnessed their last 16 win over Germany.
Hampden Park also saw returning fans for the first time in Scotland since pre-lockdown, with just under 10,000 there to see the Tartan Army play at a major tournament for the first time since the 1998 World Cup when they were beaten by the Czechs.
Over 60,000 fans will be permitted for the semi-finals and final at Wembley, with England on the hunt for their first taste of international glory since winning the 1966 World Cup.
Source : 90min