EFL matches will not be moved back 24 hours to allow fans to attend

The English Football League will not be moving matches scheduled for the final day of national lockdown so fans can attend a day later.

Matches that take place on Wednesday December 2 in areas designated by government as tier two in the new regional coronavirus regulations will be allowed to admit 2,000 spectators.  

But an extensive programme of games is scheduled to take place on Tuesday December 1 and EFL bosses met today to decide whether to allow clubs to delay their fixtures.

Sportsmail understands the EFL has decided not to make the change. 

The EFL has considered moving fixtures from December 1 to December 2 to allow fans in

EFL chairman Rick Parry had said his competition was considering whether to switch next Tuesday December 1’s matches to Wednesday December 2, if any of the home clubs were able to allow fans in after the lockdown period ends.

Of the games to be played on Tuesday, Bournemouth’s Championship match against Preston was one candidate that could have been pushed back 24 hours, since Bournemouth has been designated at tier two, under the new restrictions announced by Matt Hancock in Parliament on Thursday.

Under the rules, no fans are allowed to attend elite sports events in tier three areas, up to 2,000 can go to matches in tier two and 4,000 in tier one.

No professional clubs are located in tier one areas..

Of the other games scheduled for Tuesday, QPR’s match against Bristol City would have been potentially open to supporters if it was played 24 hours later, because London is a tier two area .

In League One, AFC Wimbledon, in tier two, would have been allowed supporters in for the visit of Peterborough if the game was rescheduled, although the home club had already indicated that Plough Lane is not ready to accept supporters.

Crewe would too for the match against Swindon, as would Oxford (against Ipswich), Northampton (against Fleetwood) and Plymouth (against Rochdale), if their games were a day later.

In League Two, games at Colchester, Forest Green and Harrogate would have been able to allow fans in if they were moved to December 2.