Football Welcomes Back The ‘Crowds'

Football finally came home yesterday as 4,000 fans returned to Wembley Stadium.

- Giles Sheldrick

Although a fraction of its 90,000 capacity saw Leicester City beat Southampton 1-0 in the FA Cup semi-final, the move could pave the way to an eventual full-scale return.

Maskless spectators were part of a research project looking at how events can be staged safely.

Along with the World Snooker Championship, which started in Sheffield on Saturday, it was part of the Government’s Events Research Programme in which Covid-status certifications are being trialled.

Experts will review the results and make recommendations on how venues could reopen later this summer.

Crucially, the pilots could help pave the way for a future “certification” programme, commonly known as vaccine passports.