Football League clubs ‘target screenings of their matches in club lounges

Football League clubs are exploring the possibility of screening their matches inside stadium hospitality areas while fans continue to be kept away from watching games. 

Rising coronavirus cases in England and Wales saw the proposed return of supporters on October 1 shelved by Government. 

That return, running at a reduced capacity, was expected to provide much-needed financial relief to clubs struggling amid the pandemic.

Football League clubs want to show matches in hospitality areas while fans are kept away

Club lounges could host screenings but any view of the pitch would need to be covered up

With a growing need for more money, and a bailout from the Premier League still yet to be agreed despite calls from the Government, the Telegraph reports that EFL clubs are assessing the feasibility of hosting screenings of games in club lounges.

Seen as a ‘hospitality’ package, it would allow fans to help generate money for their clubs and see the matches alongside fellow spectators.

With spectators still banned from attending live football in the top six levels of the FA pyramid, clubs have reportedly been told that any screening venue at their stadium must have no view of the pitch.

The space must also comply with Government guidelines in terms of hospitality and measures need to be taken to ensure any fans attending screenings would not enter restricted sections of the stadium on a matchday. 

Fans have been unable to return to watch games and so some, like these Sunderland fans at Oxford last month, have had to be creative in trying to catch a glimpse of the match action

A petition for the return of supporters will be debated in Parliament as it passed 100,000

A number of clubs at non-league level, badly affected by the ‘elite’ status given to the National League, National League North and National League South so they could complete the 2019-20 play-offs, have hosted screenings in clubhouses with windows blacked out or covered to prevent any sight of the live action.  

A petition urging the Government to reconsider allowing fans back inside stadiums passed the 100,000 signatory mark required for a parliamentary debate on Wednesday.

The ‘Allow football fans to attend matches at all levels’ motion received backing from the EFL and a large number of clubs on social media and continues to generate huge interest with more than 164,000 signatures to date.

Any motion that gets above the 100,000 level will be considered for debate by MPs in the House of Commons. 

It came as the Premier League called on Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the rest of Government to show consistency in decision made over spectators at public events after the arts sector was permitted limited crowds.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson cancelled the original October 1 return date for football clubs to welcome a reduced capacity crowd back to stadiums due to rising coronavirus case numbers

‘We will continue to urge Government to allow us to return fans safely to stadiums,’ the letter, which was signed by Richard Masters, Premier League chief executive, David Baldwin, EFL chief executive, Mark Bullingham, FA chief executive and Kelly Simmons, FA director of Women’s Professional Game, read.

‘It is positive progress that major arts and music venues have been told they can run socially-distanced events indoors. And now football should be allowed to do the same – in highly regulated and stewarded outdoor environments.

‘We are determined to identify a path forward with Government. We need clarity for our clubs and for you as supporters as to what the roadmap for change in this area looks like.

‘We all know why caution is needed, and we ask Government for consistency in their policy so sport is treated as fairly as other activities currently allowed to welcome spectators.’