Sports fans return to stadiums in the capital for the first time in nine months as small crowds of 2,000 watch England take on France at Twickenham and the North London derby at Spurs
- Tottenham Hotspur fans were seen socially distancing as they queued to get into the stadium today
- Rugby fans have returned back to stands as 2,000 spectators entered Twickenham for Nations Cup final
- Face coverings, hand sanitiser and temperature checks were necessary for fans to enter stadiums
Football and rugby fans were finally allowed back into stadiums to watch matches following the UK’s second lockdown.
Football fans were seen attending Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in north London while adhering to social-distancing rules.
A limited number of fans are allowed to attend stadiums and Tottenham, which has a capacity of 62,303, has allowed 2,000 spectators in today.
Tottenham, who are currently second in the Premier League, is playing against Arsenal this afternoon.
Fans were seen queuing up two metres apart from each other while wearing face masks. And security guards checked spectators’ temperatures before they were allowed to enter the stadium.
Football fans were seen attending Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in north London while adhering to social-distancing rules. Pictured: Fans line up as they wait to enter the ground for the match outside the stadium this afternoon
A limited number of fans are allowed to attend stadiums and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, which has a capacity of 62,303, has allowed 2,000 spectators in today. Pictured: Eager fans queue up to be let into the grounds for the match
Tottenham, who are currently second in the Premier League, is playing against Arsenal this afternoon. Fans were seen queuing up two metres apart from each other while wearing face masks (pictured)
And security guards checked spectators’ temperatures before they were allowed to enter the stadium (pictured)
Excited fans were delighted to be let back into stadiums as they spent their Sunday afternoon queuing to get into Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Tottenham Hotspur fans socially distance and wear face masks as they enter the ground for the match today
A security guard checks the temperature of a Tottenham fan waiting to get into the stadium for today’s match
Tottenham Hotspur fans stuck to social distancing rules while they waited to be allowed into the stadium
It comes after rugby fans also showed delight as 2,000 returned to the stands of Twickenham Stadium as England hosted France in the Autumn Nations Cup, and won.
Today’s cup final marks the first time fans have been able to enter the stadium since England played Wales back in March.
The experience is not the same for the fortunate fans who managed to grab a ticket – with face coverings, reduced singing, hand sanitiser, temperature checks on arrivals and social distancing all elements of the new set-up.
Rugby fans have returned back to the stands as 2,000 spectators enter Twickenham Stadium
England will host France in the final of the newly-formed Autumn Nations Cup in London
Today’s cup final marks the first time fans are present since England played Wales in March
This weekend has seen spectators return to stadiums in the Premier League, with clubs located in either Tier 1 or Tier 2 of the UK’s new coronavirus lockdown restriction able to host 2,000 fans.
London has already seen West Ham, Chelsea and Arsenal welcome back a small percentage their faithful.
Eddie Jones gave the small section of socially-distanced fans something to cheer about as they battled it out with a tough French side to become the inaugural champions of the Autumn Nations Cup.
However, the new format, replacing the previous friendly Autumn internationals, has come under some fire in it’s debut campaign.
Fans in the stands during the match, as a limited number of fans are allowed to attend stadiums following the coronavirus lockdown
Spectators were socially-distanced in the stands as they watched England win the Nations Cup
England fans cheer during the Autumn Nations Cup match at Twickenham Stadium
England fans celebrate after England’s Luke Cowan-Dickie scores a try
French fans were seen socially-distancing in the stands at Twickenham
Fans were spotted spaced out throughout the stadium’s stands
Fans were seen spaced out with a seat between each group during today’s rugby match
Fans in the stands during the match, as a limited number of fans are allowed to attend stadiums
The competition conclusion was branded a ‘farce’ after France were forced to release star players to their clubs due to a rule preventing certain players playing more than three times this autumn.
England hooker Jamie George, who scored three tries in their group opener against Georgia, insisted that the players are not calling it the ‘Mickey Mouse Cup’.
‘No one in this environment is calling it the Mickey Mouse Cup and that’s all that matters,’ said George.
‘The end goal of this campaign was to be in the position to win this trophy. It’s great exposure and experience for us to play in a final.
‘I’ve been lucky enough to win a few at Saracens. The more experience of finals rugby you have, the better you get at them. This time last year we played in a big final that didn’t go our way, hopefully it can be different this time around.’
Source: Read Full Article