4,000 locals allowed for Leicester vs Southampton at Wembley on April 18

The FA Cup semi-final is being run as a test event for the return of supporters.

Fans will be returning to Wembley Stadium for the FA Cup semi-final between Southampton and Leicester
Published 4th Apr 2021

Fans will be returning to Wembley for the FA Cup semi-final between Southampton and Leicester with 4,000 local residents allowed to attend the game on April 18.

The match is being run as a test event for the return of crowds once coronavirus lockdown restrictions are eased, but neither Southampton or Leicester are permitted their own supporters at the game.

Fans have been prevented from attending sports venues across England since the scrapping of the tier system in December.

Oliver Dowden, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, confirmed the plans on Saturday night, tweeting: "We have revealed the initial pilot events which will help pave the way for larger audiences at sport, theatre and gigs this summer.

"The government's science-led Events Research Programme will work with organisers to undertake studies to get fans and audiences back safely."

The other sporting events to be part of the pilot scheme are the Snooker World Championships, the Carabao Cup final and the FA Cup final.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has previously revealed plans to ease restrictions step-by-step across the whole country simultaneously, rather than on a regional basis.