Omicron: No fans at festive games 'devastating for Welsh sport' says Dragons' David Buttress
- Published
Cardiff 'hugely disappointed' not to have crowd for Scarlets derby, says Dai Young
Wales' regional rugby teams are facing a "catastrophic impact" of playing games without fans, according to Scarlets chairman Simon Muderack.
The restrictions affecting all levels of sport in Wales start on 26 December with an end date not officially set.
"I may not be thanked for being frank, but this is horrendous news for us. This is brutal news," Dragons chairman David Buttress added.
"[It is] devastating for professional rugby and sport".
Welsh economy minister Vaughan Gething said a £3m fund will be in place to "support" clubs and venues which will be affected.
Cardiff against Scarlets in the United Rugby Championship (URC) on Boxing Day will be the first major fixture affected.
Cardiff say they "explored alternative options, including the postponement of the fixture until crowds were permitted" but added "permission from URC was not granted".
"We've seen how much interest there was in this game by it more or less being sold out," said Cardiff director of rugby Dai Young.
"What we would have liked to have done is postponed it to a time where supporters could attend the game.
"Not for only the supporters, who showed they wanted to come by buying tickets, but from a financial and commercial point of view, it's one of our biggest days.
"Even if it wasn't on Boxing Day I'm sure it would have had a big uptake commercially. We looked at that, but we were knocked back."
The URC has been asked to comment.
Horse racing's Welsh Grand National at Chepstow on 27 December will also be held without spectators.
The rules will apply to all levels of sport in Wales, including semi-professional and grassroots as well as elite.
The Welsh government says a sporting event "refers to all indoor and outdoor sporting events, whether ticketed or not, with spectators. It includes larger sporting events and those at every level, including community sporting events, which attract significantly smaller crowds".
Muderack stated that while spectator safety is paramount, the financial impact will be felt across Welsh sport.
He wrote on Twitter: "Bitterly disappointed. After the past few weeks we were all looking to bring some festive derby cheer into people's lives. Clearly people's safety is paramount. However, the commercial impacts to all of us as clubs is catastrophic without significant further support."
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The ban on spectators will impact other sporting events.
Ospreys against Dragons on Boxing Day has already been called off because of positive Covid tests, as have football matches that day for Cardiff City and Newport County.
Wrexham are set to entertain Solihull Moors in the National League on 26 December, and while Swansea City are away on Boxing Day they then have home games with Luton (29 December) and Fulham (3 January).
Swansea will offer their season ticket holders streaming codes to watch the games online that they are not permitted to attend in person.
There were 12 games in the Cymru Premier over the festive period that have now been postponed because of the Welsh Government's decision.
The post Christmas programme in rugby's Welsh Premiership on 26 and 27 December has been postponed.
The Cardiff Devils ice hockey team have two home games during the festive period that must now be played without fans.
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What they said
A Cardiff City response to the Welsh government's move read: "Cardiff City Football Club acknowledges the instruction from the Welsh government for sporting events in Wales to be played behind closed doors for a limited period of time in an effort to curb the spread of the Omicron variant.
"Following the postponement of our Boxing Day fixture with Coventry City on Monday, this is set to most immediately impact our FA Cup third round tie with Preston North End on 9 January.
"Further information will be issued to supporters in due course."
Swansea City chief executive Julian Winter wrote on Swansea's website: "The club is devastated that supporters will not be able to attend home fixtures at the Swansea.com Stadium. However, we must support the rules of the Welsh Government.
"As our supporters are aware, the last two seasons have proven to be very difficult on a financial level. This new ruling comes at a particularly difficult time as our Christmas fixtures are usually extremely busy.
The measures being enforced mean our games against Luton Town (29 December) and Fulham (3 January) will be played without fans.
"With the Boxing Day games involving Cardiff City and Newport County - both were due to be at home - already cancelled due to Covid, it means Swansea City is the only professional Welsh football club immediately affected by the ruling."
An EFL spokesperson said: "The EFL notes the disappointing news that fans of Welsh clubs competing in the EFL will be unable to watch their team play live at home over the festive period, but we appreciate there are many factors influencing each administration's decision.
"Looking forward, the League will continue to work with our broadcast partners and other relevant stakeholders throughout this difficult period as we consider how we can appropriately support our Welsh clubs and their supporters so they can watch their team while matches are played behind closed doors.
"In addition, we will engage with the authorities in Wales to determine what type and or level of financial support they can provide our clubs in Wales whilst they are unable to welcome supporters through the turnstiles."
Wrexham stated: "We are disappointed that fans will be unable to attend our scheduled Boxing Day fixture at the Racecourse Ground, but we understand why the decision has been made.
"For any game that is played behind closed doors while these restrictions are in place, the club will refund all moneys paid and will share more details regarding this in due course."
Cardiff Devils managing director Todd Kelman told BBC Radio Wales: "Not good news obviously.
"Hopefully initially it's just for a couple of weeks but it obviously hits us pretty hard financially as it does for all sports.
"For us it's a lot of money that we won't have as income but luckily the Welsh government have promised to support the teams financially, ourselves, rugby, football, the sports that are hit by this, which is vital because if we didn't get support we'd be in a lot of trouble.
"We play Coventry on Boxing Day in Coventry and it will be sold out. There will be 3,000 people in Coventry and I'm sure there will be a lot of Devils fans that travel up to watch us as there always are, and then the next night we play the same team but in Cardiff and we'll have no fans."
Omicron: Chepstow boss Phil Bell concerned over lost Welsh Grand National revenue
Executive Director at Chepstow Racecourse Phil Bell told BBC Sport Wales: "We are very, very disappointed but not surprised, in the last 48-hours we got the impression it was going this way.
"Last night I was philosophical about it but today I feel deflated... So much goes into preparing for the event and so many people like forward to it. It is disappointing and deflating. But it is where we are."
Football fixtures in Wales
Sunday, 26 December
Championship
Cardiff City P-P Coventry City
League Two
Newport County P-P Forest Green Rovers
National League
Wrexham v Solihull Moors
Cymru Premier
Bala Town P-P Caernarfon Town
Aberystwyth Town P-P Haverfordwest County
Flint Town United P-P Connah's Quay Nomads
Newtown P-P Cardiff Met
Penybont P-P Barry Town United
The New Saints P-P Cefn Druids
Wednesday, 29 December
Championship
Swansea City v Luton Town
Thursday, 30 December
Cymru Premier
Cardiff Met P-P Newtown
Saturday, 1 January 2022
Cymru Premier
Connah's Quay Nomads P-P Flint Town United
Barry Town United P-P Penybont
Caernarfon Town P-P Bala Town
Cefn Druids P-P The New Saints
Haverfordwest County P-P Aberystwyth Town
Monday, 3 January
Championship
Swansea City v Fulham
Saturday, 8 January
FA Cup
Swansea v Southampton
League Two
Newport County v Salford
Sunday, 9 January
FA Cup
Cardiff City v Preston North End
Racing
Monday, 27 December
Welsh Grand National, Chepstow
Rugby fixtures in Wales
Sunday, 26 December
Cardiff v Scarlets
Ospreys P-P Dragons
Welsh Premiership
Carmarthen P-P Llandovery
Monday, 27 December
Welsh Premiership
Bridgend P-P Aberavon
Cardiff P-P Pontypridd
Ebbw Vale P-P Newport
Swansea P-P Llanelli
Saturday, 1 January 2022
Dragons v Cardiff
Scarlets v Ospreys
Monday, 3 January
Welsh Premiership
Cardiff RFC v Carmarthen
Llandovery v Bridgend
Merthyr v Aberavon
Pontypridd v Ebbw Vale
Swansea P-P Newport
Llanelli v RGC
Saturday, 8 January
Scarlets v Dragons
Ice Hockey fixtures in Wales
Monday, 27 December
Cardiff Devils v Coventry Blaze
Saturday, 1 January 2022
Cardiff Devils v Guildford Flames
Saturday, 8 January
Cardiff Devils v Glasgow Clan