Crowds of 4,000 can return to sporting venues in low-risk areas for the first time since March when lockdown eases next week, the Prime Minister is expected to announce.
The most dramatic reversal of spectator restrictions since the pandemic began gives football, rugby and horse-racing a chance of getting fans back from Dec 3, in low-risk areas. Under the new system, major outdoor stadiums in tier-one areas can welcome a maximum of 4,000 spectators, with bigger indoor venues allowed 1,000.
That same indoor limit applies in tier-two areas, but outdoor venues will be restricted to 2,000. In all cases smaller venues will be limited to 50 per cent capacity should the limit exceed half of seats available. Football and rugby crowds remain effectively banned in tier-three areas, however, as the Government introduces a new "drive in only" rule, which may only benefit some racecourses and motor-racing circuits.
In theory, the first matches to potentially have fans back could be Manchester United's Champions League clash with PSG on Dec 2 or, more likely, Arsenal's Europa League tie against Rapid Vienna at the Emirates the following evening. Manchester remains above the national average at 342 cases per 100,000 people, but, in Islington, there were 153 in the week ending Nov 16 - compared to a national average in England of 210.
The return of crowds is expected to be announced as Boris Johnson also outlines his plans for the return of outdoor grass-roots sport. A much-needed return for children's sport also plays a key part in plans after
Telegraph Sport raised awareness of the plight facing youngsters during its 'Keep Kids Active in Lockdown' campaign.
However, for the revenue-starved sporting sector, the announcement that millions of fans can begin looking forward to returning is the biggest breakthrough of all.
Social-distancing rules will still apply at venues and attendees will have to stick to whatever bubble arrangements apply to their tier.
It will not be clear until the end of the week which parts of the country will be clear of the new tier-three restrictions. In football's top four divisions last week, only League One's Ipswich and League Two's Colchester had infection-rate areas below the 100 per 100,000 mark.