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Chris Wilder confused by pilot scheme allowing supporters into grounds

Chris Wilder confused by pilot scheme allowing supporters into grounds
© Reuters
Nine games will be test events this weekend.

Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder admits he has been left confused by the pilot scheme allowing fans into grounds this weekend.

Nine English Football League matches are set to be played in front of crowds of up to 1,000.

That is after the Government granted the EFL permission for selected fixtures to be used as pilot events for the programme to reintroduce spectators to venues – on a socially-distanced basis – amid the coronavirus pandemic.

When asked about that, Wilder made reference to the 'rule of six' as he expressed his bemusement at the situation.

"I just don't where we are with it all, I've got to say, I haven't got a clue," Wilder said ahead of his side's Carabao Cup clash with Burnley.

"Am I allowed to see my nan? Am I allowed to see my mum? But then we can have 1,000 people in a ground but we can't have 15,000 and then I can't go and have a pint with my mates unless there's only six of us.

"So I've got to say I'm like the majority of the people in this country – I have not got a clue what's going off, haven't got a clue.

Chris Wilder's Sheffield United face Burnley in the Carabao Cup on Thursday night (Rui Vieira/NMC Pool/PA).
Chris Wilder's Sheffield United face Burnley in the Carabao Cup on Thursday night (Rui Vieira/NMC Pool/PA).

"If anybody can help me... I'll try and affect that game of football and help with the staff and the boys getting a result but everything else, all that other stuff, I ain't got a clue."

The games this weekend set to become the first professional league matches in England to be played in front of fans since March are Middlesbrough v Bournemouth, Norwich v Preston, Blackpool v Swindon, Charlton v Doncaster, Shrewsbury v Northampton, Hull v Crewe, Forest Green v Bradford, Carlisle v Southend and Morecambe v Cambridge.

Any social gathering of more than six people in England is against the law, with people facing fines if they do not abide by the new measure, which applies to both indoor and outdoor settings.

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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Leeds UnitedLeeds26158348192953
2Burnley26141023192252
3Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd26166436171952
4Sunderland26148439221750
5Middlesbrough26118743321141
6West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom26913432211140
7Blackburn RoversBlackburn2511682823539
8Bristol City2691073330337
9Watford25114103536-137
10Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds2610793840-237
11Norwich CityNorwich269984337636
12Swansea CitySwansea2697103030034
13Queens Park RangersQPR2671182934-532
14Millwall257992423130
15Preston North EndPreston2661282834-630
16Coventry CityCoventry2678113437-329
17Oxford UnitedOxford Utd2577112840-1228
18Derby CountyDerby2676133135-427
19Stoke CityStoke2669112432-827
20Luton TownLuton2674152744-1725
21Portsmouth2458113041-1123
22Hull City2658132536-1123
23Cardiff CityCardiff2558122540-1523
24Plymouth ArgylePlymouth2548132453-2920


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