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Arsenal fans Emirates Stadium 2019-20Getty Images

Will there be fans at Premier League matches in 2020-21 & when will they be allowed back?

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Advanced protection across 11 devices with high-speed VPN
ExpressVPN

Advanced

Those that sign up for ExpressVPN's most popular plan, the Advance plan, gain access to a high-speed VPN, which offers high-capacity 40Gbps servers in many high-demand locations, with VPN servers in 113 countries worldwide.

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Over 28 monthsSave 73%
Protect 14 devices with the top ExpressVPN plan
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There is a 30-day money-back guarantee for new users. The plan is available on a one-month rolling contract, although those that sign up for a 12-month plan (offering one year plus an extra three months) can save around 60%, while those that sign up for a two-year plan (offering two years plus an extra four months) can save 67%. Both longer-term plans include a 3GB holiday.com eSIM that is valid for five days in 150+ destinations.


Over 28 monthsSave 67%
Protect 10 devices with high-speed VPN
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Basic

Those that sign up for ExpressVPN's entry-level Basic plan gain access to a high-speed VPN, which offers high-capacity 40Gbps servers in many high-demand locations, with VPN servers in 113 countries worldwide.

The VPN can be applied across 10 different devices simultaneously, and offers Lite Protection that blocks ads and malicious and adult websites. A dedicated IP is available to be purchased as an add-on.

Additionally, ExpressVPN's Basic plan includes the ExpressMailGuard, which offers a 10MB/month private email relay plus 10 shared aliases.

There is a 30-day money-back guarantee for new users. The plan is available on a one-month rolling contract, although those that sign up for a 12-month plan (offering one year plus an extra three months) can save more than 60%, while those that sign up for a two-year plan (offering two years plus an extra four months) can save 80%.


Over 28 monthsSave 80%
Advanced protection across 11 devices with high-speed VPN
ExpressVPN

Advanced

Those that sign up for ExpressVPN's most popular plan, the Advance plan, gain access to a high-speed VPN, which offers high-capacity 40Gbps servers in many high-demand locations, with VPN servers in 113 countries worldwide.

The VPN can be applied across 12 different devices simultaneously, and offers Advanced Protection that blocks ads, trackers and malicious and adult websites. A dedicated IP is available to be purchased as an add-on.

Additionally, ExpressVPN's Advanced plan includes the ExpressMailGuard, which offers a 100MB/month private email relay plus 50 shared aliases and a custom domain, and ExpressKeys, which gives users a password management facility for an unlimited number of passwords plus a 2FA authenticator.

There is a 30-day money-back guarantee for new users. The plan is available on a one-month rolling contract, although those that sign up for a 12-month plan (offering one year plus an extra three months) can save more than 60%, while those that sign up for a two-year plan (offering two years plus an extra four months) can save 73%. Both longer-term plans include a 3GB holiday.com eSIM that is valid for three days in 150+ destinations.


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Supporters have not been allowed to attend games since March 2020, when the Covid-19 outbreak spread worldwide and football was forced to undergo a three-month suspension.

Football matches with thousands of fans in attendance would be a viral hotbed, and so following the restart of Premier League football in June, matches were played behind closed doors.

But when will supporters be able to return to watch their teams? Goal takes a look.

When will fans be allowed back at Premier League matches?

As it stands, there will be no fans attending Premier League matches that begin on September 12,  but there are tentative plans to re-introduce supporters starting early October.

Clubs such as Arsenal have used October 3 as a potential date to allow a certain number of fans to attend games.

A statement on the club website read: "Although our home fixture against West Ham United on Sunday, September 20 will be played behind closed doors, based on the current UK government guidelines we hope to be able to welcome supporters back to Emirates Stadium on a reduced capacity basis from the Sheffield United game scheduled for Saturday, October 3."

Slow measures have been introduced to trial fan attendance during the time of Covid-19, with Chelsea's friendly with Brighton in late August permitting 2,500 fans in the Amex Stadium.

Premier League CEO Richard Masters said of the trial: "Brighton and Hove Albion did a fantastic job at their test event for the return of supporters and it was great to see fans in a Premier League stadium for the first time since March.

"The success of having 2,500 supporters in the Amex was very encouraging and we are committed to having full stadia as soon as possible, with safety always our priority. We are working hard alongside our clubs, the government and the safety authorities to achieve this."

Brighton Chelsea Amex Stadium 2020-21Getty Images

Should stadiums even re-open for supporters in early October, however, they will be nowhere near the full capacity.

Social distancing guidelines are set sure to be enforced, with a one-metre rule to be implemented between each supporter in attendance.

This means that only a small percentage of fans (understood to be between 20 to 30 per cent) will be able to watch their team. 

Burnley stadium Turf Moor, for example, allows for 21,401 people at maximum capacity, but with social distancing rules, a maximum of 5,820 fans would be allowed in.

Furthermore, according to the Daily Mail, there will be no away fans allowed at stadiums - and chanting and singing are also said to be forbidden, as Covid-19 can be spread through airwaves by respiratory droplets.

How will Premier League clubs decide who will attend games?

The demand for match tickets has always been high, and so demand for match tickets with significantly reduced capacity will be even higher.

This leaves clubs with the problem of having to select which fans will be able to attend matches in person.

Arsenal said in their statement that ticket availability would be first given to season ticket holders, with other clubs likely to follow their lead.

"Based on our consultation with various fan groups we anticipate very high demand for the limited tickets available. Taking these factors into account we have determined that Gold season ticket holders and Premium members will have priority access to the limited tickets available," the north London club said.

"We hope to be able to safely increase the capacity during the 2020-21 season and we will share further information if we are able to allocate tickets to other member groups or non members."

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