Police warning that football banning orders still stand - even when matches are behind closed doors

After around three months away from the game due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, some clubs are preparing to take to the pitch once more with teams in both the Premier League and Championship set to resume matches this week.

While games will be played behind closed doors, with fans ready to watch from home, offenders subject to football banning orders have been warned that any conditions of their sentences must still be obeyed during lockdown.

These sometimes include staying away from specific locations while matches are played.

A Northumbria Police spokesman said: “Anyone subject to a football banning order must abide by the conditions of that order, even when games are being held behind closed doors.

“This includes any specified conditions preventing them from entering restricted zones around a football stadium or towns and city centres where regulated fixtures are taking place.”

The Premier League season will resume on Wednesday, June 17, while the first Championship fixtures will be played on Saturday, June 20.

League One Clubs voted last week to formally end the 2019/20 season, with play-off games for promotion now due to take place in July.

Clubs in League Two and the National League also voted to end the 2019/20 campaign as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Teams in the National League are still waiting for further confirmation on play-offs, with a decision expected today (Tuesday, June 16).

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