Boris lays out ‘Roadmap’ for return of football

Grassroots football could be back sooner than expected following the roadmap laid out by Boris Johnson today.

The Prime Minister has announced a four-part plan to lift the coronavirus lockdown, with some of those parts directly affecting the game at lower levels.

Outdoor sports including football, golf and tennis will be allowed to resume in England from 29 March.

Leisure centres, gyms and swimming pools can open from 12 April, as can outdoor hospitality.

Indoor hospitality can be accessed from 17 May and stadiums can open again, although at a reduced capacity.

“The turnstiles of our sports stadia will once again rotate,” said Johnson.

The plan to ease lockdown requires four tests on vaccines, infection rates and new coronavirus variants to be met.

Leagues and the FA will now digest the information before issuing official return dates and more detailed information.

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