Dorset football supporters sign petition to let fans back into stadiums
It will now be debated by MP's.
Hundreds of people in Dorset have signed a petition calling for the Government to let football fans back into stadiums.
Across the UK, almost 200,000 fans have backed the idea, forcing a Parliamentary debate to take place on the issue in the coming weeks.
As of 10am on Friday, October 16, 324 people in West Dorset's two constituencies had signed the petition – among almost 15,000 from across the South West.
The breakdown of signatures in each constituency is:
West Dorset: 159
South Dorset 165
The petition on Parliament’s website has gathered 197,000 signatures already, meaning MPs in Westminster will have to debate the matter – now confirmed for November 9.
Petition creator Ashley Greenwood said football is a "powerful tool" that brings a range of economic and social benefits.
He added:
"Football can be associated with passion, emotion, excitement and dedication across the community.
"I ask for the support of this petition as I fear that smaller clubs in particular will go out of business leading to a devastating effect on people."
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden admits there is a growing sense of frustration at the ban on live crowds at sporting events, but insists there can be no change until the spread of coronavirus is curbed.
Speaking at the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport committee, Mr Dowden said he desperately wanted to have socially-distanced spectators in grounds from October 1.
He added:
"But there is very clear evidence from the scientific community that at this stage of the disease, with rapidly rising infections, we should be imposing restrictions – which we are – not further easements.
“We are doing things that are positively hateful, but the reason we are doing it is to secure public safety.”
Though the Conservative MP gave no timeline, he said the emergence of a vaccine, 'on day' testing, or further control of the virus could all help enable events with fans to return.