Elite sport to continue but uncertainty persists lower down as restrictions loom

The Football Association is awaiting guidance on how the second lockdown restrictions will affect next weekend’s FA Cup first round, while golf and swimming chiefs are to challenge the latest Government measures.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a four-week lockdown would start on Thursday following a rise in coronavirus cases, but Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Oliver Dowden confirmed top-level sport would not be affected this time around.

However, nine of the FA Cup ties due to be played over November 6-9 involve clubs from non-elite leagues, such as Skelmersdale United, Banbury United and Cray Valley Paper Mills.

The FA is understood to be planning to give an update on the situation on Monday.

National League South club Tonbridge Angels can play their tie at League Two Bradford as they are classed as an elite club.

But they fear those clubs in the tiers below will have to halt playing again.

“As things stand our fixture will go ahead,” said a club spokesman. “But it looks like those clubs below us will stop for a month.”

The FA said on Saturday night: “We acknowledge the Government’s announcement today regarding Covid-19 restrictions and are awaiting further information before we can confirm how this may affect non-elite football across England.”

Skelmersdale play in the North West Counties Football League, which said: “As with the whole of the sports industry, the NWCFL will take further guidance and await further information before issuing any statements.”

The ATP has announced that the season-ending ATP Finals at London’s O2, from November 15-22, will go ahead behind closed doors as planned.

But leisure centres, gyms and sports facilities including swimming pools and golf courses will all be forced to shut from Thursday.

England Golf will challenge the Government’s “counter-productive” decision to close the courses.

The organisation’s chief executive, Jeremy Tomlinson, has also signed a petition to make courses exempt from the list of venues required to close.

The petition has already surpassed the 100,000 signatures required to be considered for a debate in parliament.

In his letter on England Golf’s website, Tomlinson wrote: “Having digested the Prime Minister’s statement to the nation on Saturday night and read the guidance which followed, there is an element of confusion around the government’s stated intention to close down golf courses and facilities from Thursday, November 5.

“As a result of this, and with the health of the nation very much at the heart of my thinking, I would like to make clear England Golf’s intention to respectfully challenge the government’s rationale for closing golf courses.”

Swim England chief executive Jane Nickerson also plans to appeal to the Government over the new restrictions.

She wrote on Twitter: “Lots happening over the next couple of days. Media interviews and working in partnership with other indoor sports to lobby Government.

“Meetings tomorrow on this. I am championing our clubs and the health benefits of swimming to the nation as this is a key message to Government.”