UPDATE | Behind Closed Doors On Saturday

The FA has been liaising with Government regarding attendance of spectators at FA Cup fixtures in light of the recent Government announcements. Following The FA’s latest discussions with Government, the agreed position for matches in the Second Round Qualifying will be as follows:-

• Where an Elite Club is playing another Elite Club, the match must be played behind closed doors (i.e. with no spectators permitted to be in attendance)
• Where an Elite Club is playing a Non-Elite Club:
  • Where the match is played at the Elite Club’s ground, the match must be played behind closed doors (i.e. with no spectators permitted to be in attendance)
  • Where the match is played at the Non-Elite Club’s ground, spectators of the home Club only shall be permitted to attend the match in accordance with the latest applicable National League System Spectator Guidance. Both clubs shall ensure that spectators of the visiting Club are not in attendance at the match.
• Where a Non-Elite Club is playing another Non-Elite Club, spectators (of both the home and visiting Clubs) shall be permitted to attend the match in accordance with the latest applicable National League System Spectator Guidance

For the avoidance of doubt, as at the date of this communication, Clubs in Steps 1 & 2 of The FA National League System are considered to be “Elite Clubs” and Clubs in Step 3 and below of The FA National League System are considered to be “Non-Elite Clubs”.

This position shall apply for matches in The Emirates FA Cup Second Round Qualifying and will be reviewed prior to the Third Round Qualifying.

The FA will be publishing a COVID-19 Protocol, which all relevant Clubs must comply with in accordance with Rule 35(b) of the Competition Rules, containing additional requirements for the purposes of the Second Round Qualifying in order to enhance the safety and security of the relevant fixtures. This will be communicated by The FA later today.