FA confirm ALL football from the men’s seventh tier and below is BANNED until at least December 2 in lockdown with teams unable to play or train and all grassroots sport suspended
- Non-elite football in England will be halted during the impending lockdown
- Matches and training in steps three to six of men’s national league will be suspended
- Tiers three to seven of the women’s football pyramid also brought to a halt
- Suspension also covers matches and training in regional NLS feeder leagues
- The suspension comes into affect from Thursday until at least December 2
Non-elite football in England will be halted during the second national lockdown period, the Football Association has announced.
The FA said matches and training in steps three to six of the men’s national league system (NLS) and tiers three to seven of the women’s football pyramid would be suspended during the upcoming lockdown period, which is being imposed by the Government amid a second wave of coronavirus infections nationwide.
The suspension also covers matches and training in regional NLS feeder leagues, the Women’s Super League academy league, FA girls regional talent clubs and indoor and outdoor youth and adult grassroots football.
Non-elite football in England will be halted during the second national lockdown period (pictured, a Sunday league match between Linchfield Lions and Boldmere Wanderers)
The suspension comes into effect from Thursday, with the new restrictions set to last until at least December 2.
‘Restarting football at these levels has taken substantial determination and commitment from stakeholders across the game and the FA would like to thank everyone for their vital contributions,’ a statement from the governing body read.
‘However, health and well-being remain the priority, so it is extremely important that clubs, players, coaches, match officials, league officials, volunteers, parents, carers and facility providers adhere to the UK Government’s new national Covid-19 restrictions during this period.’
This comes after confirmation that the FA Cup first round will go ahead this week after 10 lower-league clubs were granted elite status to play in lockdown.
The Government’s decision to impose a month of tighter Covid restrictions from Thursday had thrown the competition into doubt because only the Premier League, EFL and National League are allowed to continue playing.
Non-elite teams below that level cannot compete, which placed a question mark over the participation of first-round qualifiers Skelmersdale, South Shields, Marine, Bishop’s Stortford, Banbury United, Canvey Island, FC United of Manchester, Cray Valley Paper Mills, Maldon & Tiptree and Yeading United.
However, the FA confirmed on Monday that exemptions have been granted following discussions with the Government.
The FA Cup first round will be played in full this weekend despite the lockdown in England