FA COVID-19 guidance for ‘non-elite’ football updated following Tier 4 announcement

After the Government’s announcement on December 19th of a new stricter ‘Tier 4’ lockdown across London and the South East the FA issued a statement the same evening concerning football at our level.

The guidelines (below) don’t have a further impact on our league as SCEFL had already suspended all games until January, although the FA has instructed clubs players can no longer train together under ‘Tier 4’ restrictions. No time limit has been given as to when these restrictions are likely to be lifted.

SCEFL board members will be meeting on Monday 4th January 2021`to decide when to resume competitive league fixtures, hopefully by Saturday 16th January.

We will keep you updated as to any further developments over the Christmas period and look forward to returning to match football at St Paul’s as soon as possible in the new year.

FA Statement in full:

Further to the government’s announcement on Saturday 19 December with regards to the introduction of Tier 4 areas and the latest information on COVID-19, we have issued the following update.

Football for adult participants across ‘non-elite’ football in Tier 4 areas is not permitted, including all training and fixtures. This immediate advice in place from 20 December applies to the following aspects of ‘non-elite’ football in England in Tier 4 areas:

Steps three to six of the National League System (NLS)
Tiers three to seven of the Women’s Football Pyramid
Regional NLS feeder leagues
Barclays FA WSL Academy League (unless under elite guidance)
Indoor and outdoor adult grassroots football
Vitality Women’s FA Cup (which is currently classified as ‘non-elite’ at this stage in the competition)

The government’s Tier 4 guidance states organised outdoor sport for under-18s and disabled people will be allowed, while there are exemptions for FA Girls’ Regional Talent Clubs. The government’s guidelines on travel between tiers should be adhered to. These players cannot move in or out of Tier 4 to train or play.

The government’s Tier 4 guidance confirms that elite sportspeople (and their coaches if necessary, or parents/guardians if they are under 18) are able to compete and train.

It is extremely important that clubs, players, coaches, match officials, league officials, volunteers, parents, carers, and facility providers in Tiers 1 to 3 (and permitted football in Tier 4) continue to strictly follow both the UK Government’s latest guidance on COVID-19 and respective bespoke guidance documents from The FA. Any incidents of non-compliance will be reported to the local County Football Association.

If there are any further updates from government we will communicate these in due course.

https://www.thefa.com/news/2020/dec/19/covid-19-tier-4-update-191220?fbclid=IwAR0eypKm3RvOZzwja9P-MBAHZWf466lWd2SES2w2uu2m7gS4PK9dU3o6WkM