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Chris Wilder confused by pilot scheme allowing supporters into grounds

Chris Wilder confused by pilot scheme allowing supporters into grounds
© Reuters
Nine games will be test events this weekend.

Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder admits he has been left confused by the pilot scheme allowing fans into grounds this weekend.

Nine English Football League matches are set to be played in front of crowds of up to 1,000.

That is after the Government granted the EFL permission for selected fixtures to be used as pilot events for the programme to reintroduce spectators to venues – on a socially-distanced basis – amid the coronavirus pandemic.

When asked about that, Wilder made reference to the 'rule of six' as he expressed his bemusement at the situation.

"I just don't where we are with it all, I've got to say, I haven't got a clue," Wilder said ahead of his side's Carabao Cup clash with Burnley.

"Am I allowed to see my nan? Am I allowed to see my mum? But then we can have 1,000 people in a ground but we can't have 15,000 and then I can't go and have a pint with my mates unless there's only six of us.

"So I've got to say I'm like the majority of the people in this country – I have not got a clue what's going off, haven't got a clue.

Chris Wilder's Sheffield United face Burnley in the Carabao Cup on Thursday night (Rui Vieira/NMC Pool/PA).
Chris Wilder's Sheffield United face Burnley in the Carabao Cup on Thursday night (Rui Vieira/NMC Pool/PA).

"If anybody can help me... I'll try and affect that game of football and help with the staff and the boys getting a result but everything else, all that other stuff, I ain't got a clue."

The games this weekend set to become the first professional league matches in England to be played in front of fans since March are Middlesbrough v Bournemouth, Norwich v Preston, Blackpool v Swindon, Charlton v Doncaster, Shrewsbury v Northampton, Hull v Crewe, Forest Green v Bradford, Carlisle v Southend and Morecambe v Cambridge.

Any social gathering of more than six people in England is against the law, with people facing fines if they do not abide by the new measure, which applies to both indoor and outdoor settings.

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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd27176438172155
2Leeds UnitedLeeds26158348192953
3Burnley27141123192253
4Sunderland27149439221751
5Blackburn RoversBlackburn2712693124742
6West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom27914433221141
7Middlesbrough27118844341041
8Watford27125103837141
9Bristol City2791083331237
10Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds2610793840-237
11Norwich CityNorwich279994339436
12Queens Park RangersQPR2781183034-435
13Swansea CitySwansea2797113033-334
14Coventry CityCoventry2788113537-232
15Oxford UnitedOxford Utd2788113041-1132
16Preston North EndPreston2761382834-631
17Millwall2679102424030
18Stoke CityStoke27610112533-828
19Derby CountyDerby2776143137-627
20Cardiff CityCardiff2769122941-1227
21Hull City2768132636-1026
22Portsmouth2668123245-1326
23Luton TownLuton2775152744-1726
24Plymouth ArgylePlymouth2749142555-3021


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