Chelsea head coach Frank Lampard has called for football to be exempted from the government’s COVID-19 rules banning crowds, saying allowing fans in certain venues has created an unfair advantage for some Premier League teams.
Under the United Kingdom’s current three – tier system, clubs located in Tier 1 and Tier 2 are allowed with respect to 4,000 or 2,000 supporters up to a maximum of 50% capacity.
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Earlier this month, half of the 20 Premier League clubs were able to welcome back supporters. However, UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock confirmed on Monday that London would move into Tier 3, and Lampard expressed his concern that he felt football was one step behind in its response to COVID-19.
In their final Champions League Group E match against Leeds United and Grasnoder in the Premier League, London were placed first in tier 2 by welcoming Chelsea supporters to Stamford Bridge for two home games last week.
But Monday’s announcement will now not allow supporters in London’s six Premier League clubs – Arsenal, Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Fulham, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United – to play again.
Only Everton and Liverpool on the west coast and Brighton & Hove Albion and Southampton on the south coast are currently allowed to have fans.
“I think it will be difficult if it comes [to adjust back to empty stadiums] I’m a little disappointed, “Lampard told a news conference before the announcement.” Even when we were in Tier 2 and already had fans for a game, I felt it must have been a level playing field.
“Some clubs may have them, and if some can’t, we’ve already seen what I think, I felt it on the pitch, the support they give you and what it does to the game.
“I think we can really do that – I’m not telling the government what to do, but – restrict 2,000 fans from coming into the arena, whether they are coming from within their ranks or not and you want to do it to move things. So at least it’s unfortunate to say.
“Let’s look at it right: we create it as we go. It should not sound critical, this is a fact because we have never been in this position before. I think when you talk about whether clubs can control that situation, I think they have shown it so far.
“So, I think something could be done to exempt that 2,000 number from where we can get it. But it goes above and beyond my station, telling me what I think.”
Meanwhile, Christian Pulisic is fit again following a minor femoral injury, but Lampard has not yet decided whether to start Tuesday’s game against the Wolves.