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Managing Sport and Leisure Volume 27, 2022 - Issue 1-2: Managing sport and leisure in the era of Covid-19
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Commentary

COVID-19: the return of football fans

Alexander John Bonda Centre for Social Justice in Sport & Society, Carnegie School of Sport, Leeds Beckett University, UKORCID Iconhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-9667-4143
ORCID Icon,
David Cockayneb Centre for Sport Business, University of Liverpool Management School, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UKORCID Iconhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-5473-6967
ORCID Icon,
Jan Andre Lee Ludvigsenc School of Justice Studies, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UKORCID Iconhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-0085-2321
ORCID Icon,
Kieran Maguireb Centre for Sport Business, University of Liverpool Management School, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
,
Daniel Parnellb Centre for Sport Business, University of Liverpool Management School, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UKCorrespondence[email protected]
ORCID Iconhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-5593-0633
ORCID Icon,
Daniel Plumleyd Sheffield Business School, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, UKORCID Iconhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-7875-0969
ORCID Icon,
Paul Widdope Manchester Metropolitan Institute of Sport, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UKORCID Iconhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-0334-7053
ORCID Icon &
Rob Wilsond Sheffield Business School, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, UKORCID Iconhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-9657-7570
ORCID Icon show all
Pages 108-118 | Published online: 02 Nov 2020
 
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ABSTRACT

COVID-19 has sent a shockwave into society and sport. As result of this, sport and football resuming without spectators - fans or supporters, has brought a number of financial issues that has threatened the sustainability and future of many clubs. This commentary unpicks what has happened and some of the tensions, decision-making and consequences surrounding the return of spectators. The commentary presents the case that spectators are key to the survival of football clubs and that the United Kingdom Government must reverse their decision to not let spectators return. Now more than ever, these words hold substance, meaning and truly matter to clubs and their networked communities, “Football without fans is nothing”.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

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