FA Cup semi-finals to be part of pilot events for crowd return

The semi-final matches of the FA Cup are reported to have been added to a list of a events to pilot the return of large-scale crowds at sporting events.

Four matches remain in football’s oldest cup competition, which concludes at Wembley Stadium in May.

However, fans of those clubs outside of London could face being locked out from the event depending on travel guidelines.

Only Chelsea remain as a London club in the last four of the competition, with the other teams comprising Manchester City, Leicester and Southampton.

The FA Cup semi-finals have been added to a list of a events to pilot the return of fans

Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea meet Pep Guardiola’s City side on Saturday, 17 April, with Southampton and Leicester City playing on the Sunday which follows.

The semi-finals join the FA Cup final itself and the World Snooker Championship in Sheffield on the schedule.

This week culture secretary Oliver Dowden said more pilot events would be announced later this week.

Fans will be permitted inside Wembley with the possibility of 20,000 for the final

THE NEW LIMITS FROM MAY 17

From May 17, indoor venues will be allowed to admit up to a maximum of 1,000 spectators, or half their capacity if that figure is lower.

For outdoor events, there will be a maximum of 4,000 fans allowed, or half a venue’s capacity (whichever figure is lower).

However, at the biggest stadiums, such as Wembley, a maximum of 10,000 fans will be allowed, or a quarter of capacity (whichever figure is lower).

However, at the biggest stadiums, with a capacity above 16,000, such as Wembley and Premier League football grounds, a maximum of 10,000 fans will be allowed, or a quarter of capacity (whichever figure is lower).

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The Government is seeking confirmation from that the next stage of the planned easing of restrictions on 12 April is on track.

According to the Telegraph, senior figures expect the vast majority of attendees on May 15 to come from within a regional postcode to mitigate ‘unnecessary’ travel a month before Covid-19 restrictions are fully eased.

As recently reported by Sportsmail, Whitehall sources stress that fans will not be put at risk, with test events across sports and the arts starting small and the data examined at every stage as the numbers ramp up.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Number 10 are determined to proceed as quickly as possible with an eye on the showpiece Euro 2020 final at Wembley on July 11.

The trials will use an adapted version of the NHS app, which will certify if a person has been vaccinated or tested negative.

The app can then be used to analyse any incidence of the disease or spread of Covid infections resulting from the event.

They will also trial rapid lateral-flow tests and potentially, home-testing kits.

The provision for test events is included in the government’s roadmap to lifting lockdown measures and they will be crucial to enabling high-profile events, like Euro 2020 to accommodate large crowds.