All grassroots football suspended until end of lockdown, FA confirms

Premier League, EFL, Women’s Super League and National Leagues will be allowed to continue during the four-week lockdown period but all other football will be paused until restrictions are lifted

The Football Association has announced the suspension of all non-elite football from Thursday, meaning all leagues in Step Three of the National League System and below will be paused along with Tiers Three to Seven of  women’s football.

The decision includes all training sessions as well as matches, and will cover the Northern Premier League, Southern League and Isthmian League and below. The move also covers all youth and adult grassroots football, both indoors and outside.

The Premier League, EFL and National Leagues will all be allowed to continue under strict coronavirus protocols, as will the Women’s Super League and Championship, with players and staff to undergo regular testing and remain in socially distanced bubbles from any interaction with others.

The decision follows Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s implementation of a four-week national lockdown period from Thursday 5 November, which will see England enter strict restrictions on travel, socialising and playing sport until 2 December. The lockdown period is being re-introduced due to the increase in coronavirus cases and deaths over the last month, although unlike the initial lockdown in March elite sport will be allowed to continue throughout November.

A statement from the FA read: “As a result of the UK Government’s new national Covid-19 restrictions, and subject to Members of Parliament voting tomorrow (Wednesday 4 November 2020) and the publication of bespoke guidance from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS), the impact on ‘non elite’ football in England will include the suspension of the following during this period:

• All fixtures and training for Steps 3-6 of the National League System (NLS);

• All fixtures and training for Tiers 3-7 of the Women’s Football Pyramid (WFP);

• All fixtures and training for the Regional NLS Feeder Leagues;

• All fixtures and training for The Barclays FA WSL Academy League;

• All fixtures and training for FA Girls Regional Talent Clubs;

• All fixtures and training for FA Girls Regional Talent Clubs;

• All fixtures and training for indoor and outdoor youth and adult grassroots football.

“Our aim is to ensure that the 2020/21 season is completed at these levels and will liaise with the relevant leagues in the NLS and WFP and the County Football Associations (CFAs) to provide support and establish appropriate options to do so if required.”

The governing body managed to get football back up and running with the new domestic season at the start of last month, with matches taking place in an effort to complete a full 2020/21 season despite a shortened window. The FA still plans on completing the seasons as scheduled, although further disruption is possible.

They also paid tribute to clubs and individuals who have helped to get the sport back up and running following the coronavirus outbreak, but reiterated that “health and wellbeing remains the priority” which meant they were left with no option than to place the sport on pause.

“Re-starting football at these levels has taken substantial determination and commitment from stakeholders across the game and we would like to thank everyone for their vital contributions,” the statement added.

“However, health and wellbeing 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.

“We remain in dialogue with the DCMS, leagues, competitions and CFAs and will provide further clarification for ‘non-elite’ football in England following the debate in the House of Commons tomorrow.”