Petition demanding return for all competitive football in Wales has 4,000 names

A petition demanding all teams in Wales get their football back is heading towards 4,000 signatures tonight.

Mark Morgans launched a petition urging the Welsh Government to raise the number of people allowed in outdoor spaces so football can restart for all teams in Wales.

Petitions with more than 5,000 signatures will be considered for a debate in the Senedd.

Due to COVID-19, the current rules / legislation only allows 30 people to be in an outdoor space.

With football teams needing 11 versus 11 plus officials and staff, it’s pretty impossible to run competitive adult leagues until this number is lifted.

The strong belief among football supporters in Wales is that games can be run safely and effectively if the number is increased to 30 people not including the players and officials on the field.

“Please liaise with the Football Association of Wales and consider raising the numbers so tier 2 & below can start playing again,” says the petition.

First Minister Mark Drakeford gave little hope of a return to competitive football today when he announced the 30-person rule would remain when the national ‘firebreak’ lockdown in Wales ceases next Monday, November 9.

While football is allowed under restrictions in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, there are currently no leagues operating in Wales, apart from games in the top flight Cymru Premier where a professional standard environment is available.

Before the ‘firebreak’ lockdown, the tier 1 Cymru Premier was fully active as its players are considered as having ‘elite athlete status’, but all matches took place behind closed doors.

That situation is expected to remain when the CPL recommences in full on the weekend of November 13-14.

As for tiers 2-5, the FAW’s Phased Return to Football is due to restart after November 9, but the current stage allows for inter-club friendlies only.

To sign the Raise the number of people allowed in outdoor spaces so football can restart for all teams in Wales petition click onto:

https://petitions.senedd.wales/petitions/244231?fbclid=IwAR3e7kTGUVVQOMPGme4O5jaNNBDFskkxtO6b7DQYbGyXZjDYxsdWjWj71HQ