Date set for debate about when Newcastle United fans could return to St James's Park
Newcastle United fans have not been allowed into St James’s Park since the 0-0 draw with Burnley on February 29 this year – and despite the club putting skeleton plans in place to allow between 10,000 to 15,000 fans into the ground this season, the UK government brought those considerations to a halt last month due to the increase in the spread of COVID-19.
More than 190,000 people have signed an online petition to get parliament to discuss the possibility of letting fans return to matches.
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Hide AdAnd, as a result of that support, a debate will now take place at Westminster on November 9.
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden says he understands fan frustrations – especially with lower league fans allowed into stadiums.
“I accept people's frustration at the inconsistency there. The simple reason is, we had sports on a path to return to normality. We were one of the first in the world to achieve football back and being played behind closed doors.
“The next phase was pilot games with social distanced spectators in stadia. I desperately wanted that to happen (more pilots).
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Hide Ad“Because of where we are with the rapid rise we have not been able to have that. The advice from the scientific community is that we should be imposing restrictions not further easing.
“We were ready to go. They were successful. We were ready to go from Oct 1. We had to pause it because of the rapid expansion of the disease. It is not just the stadium. It is the journey, people want to have something to eat on the way. That's not to say that can't be mitigated.
“We'd be increasing social interaction while imposing further restrictions.”
Last month a number of fan groups and representatives met with club officials to talk through what a return to SJP may mean.
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Hide AdIt was revealed fans would be unlikely to be able to sit in their allocated seat due to the ground being restricted to around 33% of capacity. Catering facilities would not be available, but toilets would remain open with social distancing in place across the stadium.