The FA have provided an update for ‘non-elite’ football in England following the UK Government’s new national COVID-19 restrictions, that will be in place from 5 November until 2 December.
The Football Association said today in a statement:
As a result of the UK Government’s new national COVID-19 restrictions, and subject to Members of Parliament voting tomorrow [Wednesday 4 November 2020] and the publication of bespoke guidance from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport [DCMS], the impact on women’s ‘non elite’ football in England will include the suspension of the following during this period:
- All fixtures and training for Tiers 3-7 of the Women’s Football Pyramid [WFP]
- All fixtures and training for The Barclays FA WSL Academy League
- All fixtures and training for FA Girls Regional Talent Clubs
- All fixtures and training for indoor and outdoor youth and adult grassroots football.
Our aim is to ensure that the 2020-21 season is completed at these levels and will liaise with the relevant leagues in the NLS and WFP and the County Football Associations [CFAs] to provide support and establish appropriate options to do so if required.
The UK Government has confirmed that school sport can continue as an exemption during this period.
Further updates on fixtures and dates for the 2020-21 Vitality Women’s FA Cup and FA Youth Cup will follow in due course.
Re-starting football at these levels has taken substantial determination and commitment from stakeholders across the game and we would like to thank everyone for their vital contributions. However, health and wellbeing remain the priority, so it is extremely important that clubs, players, coaches, match officials, league officials, volunteers, parents, carers and facility providers adhere to the UK Government’s new national COVID-19 restrictions during this period.
We remain in dialogue with the DCMS, leagues, competitions and CFAs and will provide further clarification for ‘non-elite’ football in England following the debate in the House of Commons tomorrow.
