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UK government delays return of fans to stadiums amid rise in COVID-19 cases

Stuart MacFarlane / Arsenal FC / Getty

The British government announced Tuesday new restrictions that will delay the return of fans to stadiums due to the sharp rise in COVID-19 cases in the United Kingdom.

"We have to acknowledge that the spread of the virus is now affecting our ability to reopen business conferences, exhibitions, and large sporting events," U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said, according to Reuters. "So we will not be able to do this from the first of October.

"I recognize the implications for our sports clubs which are the life and soul of our communities and ... the chancellor and culture secretary are working urgently on what we can do now to support them."

Johnson added the new restrictions could remain in place for the next six months.

The Premier League was hopeful of welcoming fans back to stadiums after Oct. 1 with a plan that would allow teams to fill their respective stadiums to 25-33% capacity.

The Premier League said it was "disappointed" about Tuesday's announcement and warned the continued closure of stadiums will result in losses of up to £100 million a month.

"The Premier League notes the government's announcement today and while the health of the nation must remain everyone's priority, we are disappointed that the safe return of supporters to matches has been postponed," the Premier League said in a statement, according to Mark Ogden of ESPN FC.

"The Premier League is certain that through league-wide guidelines and a code of conduct developed with scientific experts and agreed by the government's Sports Ground Safety Authority, fans in stadiums will be as safe or even safer than at any other public activity currently permitted. This is already evident in other European leagues.

"Football is not the same without attending fans and the football economy is unsustainable without them."

Premier League matches, along with a majority of British sporting events, have been played behind closed doors since March in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Several pilot projects in recent weeks have allowed up to 1,000 spectators at sporting events, but future projects are now on hold.

Experts warned Johnson on Monday about a potential second wave of the outbreak, saying cases in Britain could rise to 50,000 per day in October unless he moved swiftly to implement harsher restrictions.

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