FAI announces all football events will take place without spectators following government tightening of restrictions

The FAI have confirmed that all League of Ireland and Women’s National League games will take place behind closed doors following the government’s announcement of new restrictions on outdoor gatherings.

Gatherings of up to 200 people had previously been allowed for outdoor sporting events but this number has now been reduced to 50 for the foreseeable future.

The association has now confirmed that no spectators will be allowed at any game under their jurisdiction.

This means that clubs who had allowed a small number of season ticket holders access to home games will no longer be able to accommodate anybody except ‘essential’ personnel.

The FAI will release updated protocols on Wednesday to clarify who, exactly, qualifies as essential to a fixture.

While some clubs, such as Cork City, had already taken these measures voluntarily, other clubs had allowed a limited number of members and season ticket holders in physically-distanced attendance.

Outdoor training will be restricted to groups of 15, though more than one group can train in the same location provided they don’t mix.

Underage training must include at least two coaches and a maximum of 13 children to observe the FAI Child Welfare and Safeguarding Policy.

All indoor football and indoor futsal events will be suspended immediately due to guidance allowing a maximum of six people to gather indoors.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin announced the new, tightened measures on Tuesday evening as the number of new cases of Covid-19 remains in three digits per day.

A large number of these cases relate to cramped conditions in businesses deemed essential, like meat and vegetable-packing factories, and inhumane living quarters in Direct Provision.

No outbreaks have yet been reported surrounding sporting events, where temperature checks and strict physical distancing have been enforced both at professional and amateur level.

Two Waterford players, who reported flu-like symptoms on the weekend of the club’s return to action in early August, both received negative tests for Covid-19.