Today (30/12/2020), the government announced the introduction of Tier 4 areas in Leicester and Leicestershire with Rutland becoming a Tier 3 area.

We wanted to highlight the FA’s updated guidance from the 23^rd December on the latest information on COVID-19 specifically for Tier 4 areas, and what this means for football now across our county.

Football for adult participants across ‘non-elite’ football in Tier 4 areas is not permitted, including all training and fixtures. This immediate advice applies to the following aspects of ‘non-elite’ football in England in Tier 4 areas:

• Steps three to six of the National League System (NLS)
• Tiers three to seven of the Women’s Football Pyramid
• Regional NLS feeder leagues
• Barclays FA WSL Academy League (unless under elite guidance)
• Indoor and outdoor adult grassroots football
• Vitality Women’s FA Cup (which is currently classified as ‘non-elite’ at this stage in the competition)

The government’s Tier 4 guidance states organised outdoor sport for under-18s and disabled people will be allowed, while there are exemptions for FA Girls' Regional Talent Clubs. The government’s guidelines on travel between tiers should be adhered to. These players cannot move in or out of Tier 4 to train or play.

The government’s Tier 4 guidance confirms that elite sportspeople (and their coaches if necessary, or parents/guardians if they are under 18) are able to compete and train.

It is extremely important that clubs, players, coaches, match officials, league officials, volunteers, parents, carers, and facility providers in Tiers 1 to 3 (and permitted football in Tier 4) continue to strictly follow both the UK Government's latest guidance on COVID-19 and respective bespoke guidance documents from The FA. Any incidents of non-compliance needs to be reported to us.

If there are any further updates from government we will communicate these in due course