FA Cup semi-final to be used as part of fan return trials

One of the FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley Stadium will be used as part of a series of events trialling the return of large crowds to major sporting events in the United Kingdom.

The UK's current plan is to allow stadiums to return to 25% capacity from May 17, up to a maximum of 10,000 fans, but there are hopes that the FA Cup final on May 15 could host 20,000 supporters.

To try and prepare for the lifting of restrictions, there will be a series of trial events to see how feasible welcoming back such large crowds in a safe manner would be, and Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden told BBC Sport that one of the semi-finals has been earmarked for a trial.

"We want to get as many people back as safely as possible," said Dowden. "We want to make it as simple and convenient as possible for people. That's why we are conducting these pilots.

"The plan is to look at factors like one-way systems, ventilation within a stadium and how you interact in terms of getting to and from the venue.

"The purpose of this is not so much the overall number, it is how they interact with each other. So it's the social distancing that they have from each other. It's the behavioural factors. We will be testing them before and after to look at spread and look how they behave in the stadium.

"We're not just chucking everyone into the stadiums, it is being done in a very controlled way and the purpose is to get the rules set can so it can be as safe as possible from June 21."

There was no mention of which semi-final will be used. Chelsea will meet Manchester City on April 17, with Southampton set to face Leicester one day later for the final spot in May's final.

Dowden also revealed that the government are planning more test events before the final lifting of restrictions, with the FA Cup final and the World Snooker Championship in Sheffield both thought to be on the schedule as well.

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