Staff Reporter.
Up to 10,000 fans will be permitted at outdoor sports venues in England from 17 May, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has confirmed.
That includes the final two rounds of Premier League matches this season, with stadiums set to open to home fans only at reduced capacity.
The final two rounds of matches will be played on 18-19 May and 23 May.
“We’ll unlock the turnstiles of our sports stadia subject to capacity limits,” Johnson said on Monday.
All teams have a home game in either the penultimate or final round of matches.
Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said: “It’ll be brilliant to see fans back.
“They’ve been hugely missed and the Premier League hasn’t been the same without them. Their presence will ensure a fantastic finale to the end of our season.”
Up to 2,000 fans were allowed at a number of Premier League matches in December, the last time fans were in attendance at top-flight games, before the country was locked down again
The government hopes to increase the number of spectators allowed at venues from 21 June, when restrictions in England are expected to be further lifted.
The pilot events continue this weekend when 21,000 fans are expected to attend Saturday’s FA Cup final between Chelsea and Leicester City.
The Duke of Cambridge, the FA’s president, will attend the game and present the trophy to the winners.
Meanwhile Edinson Cavani has signed a contract extension at Manchester United that keeps the Uruguay striker at the club until June 2022.
The 34-year-old has had an outstanding finish to the season, scoring eight goals in seven games.
Cavani said: “I have developed a great affection for the club and everything that it represents.
“I feel a deep bond with my team-mates and the staff who work behind the scenes.”
Cavani, who was undecided over whether to stay for a second year, added: “They give me extra motivation every day and I know that together we can achieve special things.”
He has been one of the leading strikers in European football for the past decade, scoring a record 200 goals in 301 appearances for Paris St-Germain after joining from Napoli, where he made his name.