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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 Utd20135228111742
2Leeds UnitedLeeds20125336142241
3Burnley2010822471738
4Sunderland20107329151437
5Blackburn RoversBlackburn1910452317634
6West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom2071122314932
7Middlesbrough209473425931
8Watford199462725231
9Swansea CitySwansea207672119227
10Norwich CityNorwich206863530526
11Bristol City206862525026
12Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds207582329-626
13Millwall196762017325
14Preston North EndPreston2041062026-622
15Luton TownLuton2064102335-1222
16Coventry CityCoventry205692529-421
17Derby CountyDerby205692226-421
18Stoke CityStoke205692126-521
19Queens Park RangersQPR204972026-621
20Oxford UnitedOxford Utd194692030-1018
21Portsmouth183872130-917
22Cardiff CityCardiff1945101730-1317
23Plymouth ArgylePlymouth1945101940-2117
24Hull City2037101828-1016


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