How the latest Covid-19 tier review has affected chances of attending games in Yorkshire

PROFESSIONAL football stadiums across most of the Broad Acres will remain empty over the festive season with West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, East Yorkshire and the Tees Valley remaining in Tier 3 following the Government's announcement on the latest review of the three-tier system.
Elland Road, Leeds.Elland Road, Leeds.
Elland Road, Leeds.

There is no movement in any tiers across the county, although North Yorkshire will remain in Tier 2.

Speculation had been abound that Leeds could move to Tier 2 following a drop in Covid-19 rates, while South Yorkshire Mayor Dan Jarvis said he expected his region to remain in Tier 3.

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Clubs in Tier 2 areas are allowed up to 2,000 of their own supporters to attend home matches. Those in Tier 3 must play games behind closed doors.

For Yorkshire's clubs, there are no changes in regulations following the latest review and across the EFL, only Harrogate Town - with the spa town in a Tier 2 area - will host fans over the Yuletide period.

Harrogate welcome Salford on Saturday and play host to Carlisle United on December 29.

But there will be no supporters in attendance at games at Barnsley, Bradford City, Doncaster Rovers, Hull City, Huddersfield Town, Leeds United, Middlesbrough, Rotherham United, Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday.

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Several derbies are taking place over Christmas, with Barnsley welcoming Huddersfield on Boxing Day, while the Reds visit Rotherham on December 29.

On the same day (December 29), Hull host near-neighbours Lincoln.,

Leeds entertain Burnley in a Roses fixture on December 27, while Sheffield United are at home to Everton on Boxing Day.

All will be played behind closed doors, alongside a host of other fixtures.

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Meanwhile, sports venues across large swathes of the south-east and east of England must close their doors again from Saturday after Health Secretary Matt Hancock confirmed changes to the coronavirus tier system.

Hancock said Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Peterborough, the whole of Hertfordshire, Surrey with the exception of Waverley, Hastings and Rother on the Kent border of East Sussex plus Portsmouth, Gosport and Havant in Hampshire would move from tier two to tier three due to a rise in Covid-19 cases and coronavirus-related hospital admissions.

Outdoor venues in those areas had been allowed to welcome up to 2,000 spectators but must now revert to being behind closed doors.

Only Bristol and north Somerset have moved from tier three to tier two.

Following the review, only four Premier League clubs - Brighton, Everton, Liverpool and Southampton - are able to admit supporters from Saturday.

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