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Coronavirus spike pauses plans to allow fans back to sport stadiums from 1 October

Socially distanced fans at the Brighton vs Chelsea friendly (AFP via Getty)
Socially distanced fans at the Brighton vs Chelsea friendly (AFP via Getty)

Plans to allow fans to return to live sport from 1 October have been postponed, Michael Gove has confirmed, due to a resurgence in coronavirus cases in the UK.

“We’ve been piloting some open air venues and we do want to be able in due course to allow people to return to watch football and other sporting events,” the cabinet minister told BBC Breakfast.

"We need to be cautious at the moment and I think a mass reopening at this stage wouldn’t be appropriate."

A rise in coronavirus cases over the last month saw plans revised with pilot events restricted to 1,000 people.

A number of sports have urged the government to allow them to continue with their plans, but Gove has confirmed those plans will now be put on hold.

Boris Johnson is set to outline a number of restrictions in a Commons speech later and a TV address to the nation on Tuesday evening.