It is the FA Cup Second Qualifying Round this weekend and the Government has moved to avert chaos by providing a Convid "bail-out" to the National League clubs taking part on October 3rd. Hopefully this will prevent the North and South Division clubs from withdrawing from their ties or playing with no income. The government has promised to underwrite losses, as clubs play behind closed gates again, as enforced by the Government. Clubs, with costs at home and away draining their coffers, are precariously balanced financially. The season for many clubs has not started.
The Isthmian League Premier club, the historic Corinthian-Casuals FC (Step 7 Football League), is scheduled to play rivals Dulwich Hamlet (Step 6 Football League) this weekend, with away spectators banned at their King George's Arena. A club statement said that "Coronavirus is clearly clever enough to differentiate between supporters of National League Step 2 and Step 3 clubs....."
Corinthian-Casuals supporters are able to attend (look left) and so can neutral ones, but away fans cannot join the "bubble". The club officials have announced on their website that Hamlet supporters cannot buy tickets and so, the club apologises for having to make that statement.
Have a look at Dulwich's supporters "kit" bottom left.......
The Casuals beat Little Common, away 0-3 in the last round. This is Hamlet's first official game.
The FA promises to review the situation as the next round draws near, but much depends on government decisions. Here is a recent statement from the FA and the Dept of Culture, Media and Sport:
The purpose of this communication is to provide clarification on the situation regarding spectators attending matches in the Second Round Qualifying of the FA Cup.
The FA has been liaising with Government regarding attendance of spectators at FA Cup fixtures in light of the recent Government announcements. Following The FA’s latest discussions with Government, the agreed position for matches in the Second Round Qualifying will be as follows:-
- Where an Elite Club is playing another Elite Club, the match must be played behind closed doors (i.e. with no spectators permitted to be in attendance)
- Where an Elite Club is playing a Non-Elite Club:
- Where the match is played at the Elite Club’s ground, the match must be played behind closed doors (i.e. with no spectators permitted to be in attendance)
- Where the match is played at the Non-Elite Club’s ground, spectators of the home Club only shall be permitted to attend the match in accordance with the latest applicable National League System Spectator Guidance. Both clubs shall ensure that spectators of the visiting Club are not in attendance at the match.
- Where a Non-Elite Club is playing another Non-Elite Club, spectators (of both the home and visiting Clubs) shall be permitted to attend the match in accordance with the latest applicable National League System Spectator Guidance.
For the avoidance of doubt, as at the date of this communication, Clubs in Steps 1 & 2 of The FA National League System are considered to be “Elite Clubs” and Clubs in Step 3 and below of The FA National League System are considered to be “Non-Elite Clubs”.
This position shall apply for matches in The Emirates FA Cup Second Round Qualifying and will be reviewed prior to the Third Round Qualifying.
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