Up to 2,000 Portsmouth fans could be back in Fratton Park by next week
Pompey fans can think of a Fratton Park return as early as next week after the government announced supporters’ return to outdoor sporting events.
This afternoon, Prime Minister Boris Johnson outlined his latest Coronavirus action plan for when the current national lockdown ends on December 2.
And among the measures announced was be the return of spectators to football stadiums.
It's anticipated that a maximum of 4,000 fans or 50-per-cent capacity limits – whichever is lowest – will be allowed at outdoor events in the lowest-risk areas.
Before the current lockdown period, Portsmouth was on a ‘medium’ alert – placing the city in tier one of England’s three-tier system.
However, latest figures up to November 19 showed Portsmouth had 620 Covid-19 cases – a rate of 288.5 per 100,000 people – prompting Portsmouth City Council leader Gerald Vernon-Jackson to say the city will ‘almost certainly' be in tier two or tier three.
A new tiered system is expected to be announced on Thursday.
If that’s the case, Pompey would then be permitted to let in 2,000 fans, with a home game against Peterborough on Saturday, December 5, their first match after the current lockdown measures expire.
The Blues fans haven’t been at Fratton Park for more than eight months due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. That was a 2-2 draw with Fleetwood on Tuesday, March 10.
There will be no crowds allowed at sport in the highest-risk areas under the new Covid-19 restrictions for England from December 2.