Prominent fan group has this message for Government as Sunderland supporters wait for news

Kevin Miles, the chief executive of the Football Supporters’ Association, said: “The FSA has written to the government to stress how important it is that we start to allow fans back into games.

“Feedback from our members at test events has confirmed high levels of compliance with all the health and safety measures put in place, and that they felt safer at games than they have done in many other social situations.

“Having fans at games is of course not only important to the lives of supporters, it is also crucial to the survival of so many clubs who play a crucial role within their communities. A combination of revenue at the ground and government support is urgently needed to keep clubs going.

"The government has to listen to fans and football clubs on this one.”

After a number of successful fan pilots last weekend – which saw up to 1,000 fans attend seven EFL fixtures – there were hopes that fans could soon return in a phased approach.

Indeed, the government themselves had set a target date of October 1 for the return of spectators to sporting events.

However, that date has now been postponed with the government set to tell clubs that fans will not be allowed to attend elite sporting fixtures next month.

In addition, no further pilot events will be held, at a time where the number of coronavirus cases is rising rapidly.