Up to 10,000 fans could be back in stadiums by mid-May as part of the government’s plans to move England out of lockdown.
Outdoor sports including football, golf and tennis will be allowed to resume in England from 29 March.
The plan to ease lockdown requires four tests on vaccines, infection rates and new coronavirus variants to be met.
“The turnstiles of our sports stadia will once again rotate,” said Johnson.
Leisure centres, gyms and swimming pools can open from 12 April.
Venues such as gyms, tennis courts and golf courses have been closed across England since lockdown was announced on 4 January.
What will be allowed in England from 8 March
- Under-18 sport can take place at school as part of educational provision, or as part of wraparound care.
- The stay-at-home restriction will continue but will be amended so people can leave home for recreation as well as exercise outdoors – with their own household, support or childcare bubble, or with one person from another household. Social distancing and other safe behaviours should be followed.
From 29 March
- Outdoor sports facilities such as tennis and basketball courts, and outdoor swimming pools, can reopen. Formally organised outdoor sports – for adults and under 18s – can also restart and will not be subject to the gatherings limits.
No earlier than 12 April
- Indoor leisure (including gyms) open for use individually or within household groups.
- All children will be able to attend any indoor children’s activity, including sport, regardless of circumstance. Parent and child groups of up to 15 people (not counting children aged under five years old) can restart indoors.
No earlier than 17 May
- Adult indoor group sports and exercise classes.
- Sports events indoors will be allowed up to 1,000 people or 50% of a venue’s capacity, whichever is lower, while outdoor events will have a capacity of either 50% or 4,000 people, whichever is lower.
- There will be a special provision for large, outdoor, seated venues where crowds can be safely distributed, allowing up to 10,000 people or 25% of total seated capacity, whichever is lower.
Rules in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
In Scotland, outdoor non-contact sports like golf and tennis are currently permitted and the government hopes to publish a route out of lockdown in the coming week.
Under Wales’ current restrictions, sport and leisure facilities are closed but up to four people from two different households can meet to exercise outdoors.
First Minister Mark Drakeford has announced minor easing of restrictions and said he hopes the “stay-at-home” requirement can end within three weeks.
Indoor and outdoor sports facilities are closed in Northern Ireland, where lockdown has been extended until 1 April, with a review of current measures on 18 March.
More to follow
