Fans could return to Premier League and EFL games in Tier 1 and 2 areas next month

Some football fans could be back in stadiums in a matter of weeks

The long-awaited return of football supporters at games across the country could finally be on the horizon, a report has claimed. With the national lockdown in place in England until at least December 2, a report by Sportsmail claims some fans could be permitted to attend Premier League and EFL fixtures in areas where infection rates are low once the current restrictions are lifted.

Plans to allow football fans to return to games have been drawn up by the government, with the report claiming the Department of Culture, Media and Sport has now submitted the proposals to the Cabinet Office.

Although all details are yet to be revealed, it is claimed fans in tier 1 and 2 areas will be permitted entry to games, subject to various conditions. It is, however, unclear at this stage which grounds will be deemed safe for fans to go to with a new four-tier system expected to be introduced to coincide with the end of the lockdown. Despite this, word that fans could soon begin to return for the first time since March will be warmly received by clubs that have struggled financially throughout the pandemic without supporter revenue. The government has received widespread criticism from across the football pyramid at their refusal to find a way to reintroduce fans to grounds while simultaneously giving the green light for arts-lovers to attend concerts and theatres. Despite numerous positive updates on various vaccines, infection rates have soared across the country in recent weeks, with the Office for National Statistics date showing a total of 1,937 people who died in the first week of November had coronavirus mentioned on their death certificate. Should the current lockdown not have a significant impact on these figures, current restrictions will almost certainly be extended, therefore postponing any plans to reintroduce football supporters to games.