FAW Return to Play

Further to the Welsh Government’s most recent COVID-19 announcement, please see attached the updated Return to Play protocols. Please take the time to read this short important document.
The 2021/22 season was deliberately started earlier than normal, to build in some contingency in the event of an enforced winter break. Many competitions also front loaded their fixtures, with lots of midweek matches played during the summer months. To date, over 16,000 matches have been played across 461 different competitions. As a result, the number of matches planned for the Christmas and New Year period was already much reduced with only 51 matches (all adult) scheduled to take place between 26th December and 7th January, 2022.
In the Welsh Government’s most recent announcement, a cap of 50 spectators has now been introduced at each football match in Wales (regardless as to the level). We know that given the number of local derby fixtures scheduled over the festive period, these matches were likely to attract much larger crowds than the permitted 50-person limit, and in the interest of health and safety of all those involved, the FAW has taken a sensible approach to postpone all matches up to and including Friday 7th January 2022.The FAW firmly believes that football without fans is not in the best interests of the game.
The FAW will now review the position on Tuesday 4th January and consider the latest COVID-19 guidelines, before making an informed decision in respect of the matches that are scheduled to take place on Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th January. In the meantime, we thank you for your patience.
Finally, we would like to thank all volunteers for their unstinting commitment and hard work during what has once again been, a very challenging year, and wish you and your families a safe and healthy Christmas.
Kind regards
The Football Association of Wales”