Alert Level 4 lockdown in Wales impacts on local football

All non-professional and non-elite football in Wales has been suspended following the Welsh Government’s latest lockdown announcement.

On Saturday, 19 December (today), First Minister Mark Drakeford announced that Wales will enter an alert level 4 lockdown from midnight, Sunday 20 December, for a minimum of three weeks. This will have an impact on football in Wales.

The Welsh Government has released detailed guidance and a COVID-19 control plan regarding the alert level 4 system that will be imposed.

As a result, football in Wales will be impacted in the following ways. The FAW has announced:

All non-professional and non-elite (as defined by Sport Wales from time to time) activity, including all junior football, detailed in the FAWs Return to Play Protocols, will be suspended during this period.

The tier 1 Cymru Premier, plus tier 2 Cymru North and Cymru South leagues currently enjoy elite status, so therefore can continue. The tier 2 leagues are not due to start until mid-January anyway.

Some tier 2 clubs played their first competitive matches of the season last week in the Nathaniel MG Cup.

The FAW urges everyone to follow the Welsh Government guidelines during the alert level 4 lockdown to limit the spread of COVID-19.

The FAW is currently seeking clarification from the Welsh Government on the level of restrictions that will be in place following the end of this lockdown period, to ascertain what football activity can resume.