Fans to watch Brighton friendly - plus rugby union, cricket and horse racing

Brighton will allow some season-ticket holders and club members to attend their pre-season friendly

Fans will be allowed in the Amex Stadium for Brighton's friendly with Chelsea on Saturday as part of the government's latest pilot scheme.

Some fans will also be able to attend a women's friendly at Lewes on Sunday, West Ham and Arsenal's Women's Super League game and Non-League Finals Day.

The Harlequins-Bath Premiership rugby union match at Twickenham Stoop on 5 September will also have spectators.

Some Bob Willis Trophy and T20 Blast cricket matches will also have fans.

Up to 2,500 Surrey members will be able to watch their T20 Blast fixture against Hampshire at the Kia Oval on 3 September.

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) say capacity limits and ticketing processes will vary based on individual venues and events, with further pilots to be announced in due course.

Brighton say a total of 2,500 tickets will be made available to season-ticket holders and members for Saturday's match.

Chief executive Paul Barber said the fixture was "the start of a progression of bringing larger crowds back to stadiums over what we hope will be a relatively short period of time, as confidence increases".

The capacity at Twickenham Stoop for next month's Premiership match between Harlequins and Bath is expected to be limited to 4,000.

The St Leger Festival at Doncaster from 9-12 September will be the first of three horse racing venues allowing spectators to return to the sport.

The St Leger is the final Classic of 2020, the other four having been held behind closed doors due to Covid-19.

The other meetings to welcome back crowds will be at Warwick on 21 September and Newmarket from 24-26 September.

A previous racing pilot event at Goodwood was cancelled by the government last month following an increase in the spread of Covid-19.

Racing has taken place behind closed doors since it returned on 1 June following the pandemic, with only essential personnel, since followed by owners, allowed at the track.

Racecourse Association chief executive David Armstrong said: "The disappointment of postponing our last confirmed pilot at Goodwood was felt across the sport, but the learnings and behind-the-scenes work have been of great value to others.

"Racing is ready to proceed in a safe manner and we are looking forward to once again welcoming crowds back to the racecourse."

Basketball and speedway fixtures next month are also due to be part of the pilot scheme.

Last month the government cancelled a previous pilot scheme after a spike in coronavirus cases.

Spectators were due to watch the first two days of two county cricket matches, horse racing and the World Snooker Championship.

A limited number of fans were eventually allowed to watch the final of the World Snooker at the Crucible in Sheffield earlier this month.