UK football fans to return to some stadiums when lockdown lifts

Fans of Premier League clubs in London and Liverpool can attend games when a monthlong national lockdown to contain the spread of COVID-19 is lifted on December 2, after the two cities were among those classified on Thursday as falling into high-alert regions.

Up to 4,000 spectators will be allowed to attend outdoor elite sport events in the lowest-risk, medium-alert areas of England, the British government said on Monday.

While none of the Premier League clubs is in Tier 1 zones, Liverpool City Region and all 32 boroughs of London plus the city of London will fall under the high-alert zone and clubs in those areas can welcome up to 2,000 supporters.

North London club Arsenal will be the first top-flight club to welcome back 2,000 fans when they host Austrian side Rapid Vienna in their Europa League group game on December 3 at the Emirates Stadium.

The club said tickets would be sold on a “first-come, first-served” basis to members who had registered for the ballot earlier this season.

Several other regions in England with Premier League clubs can also bring back fans including Brighton and Southampton.