SPORTS clubs across Wales are calling on Mark Drakeford to let fans back into stadiums.
Fourteen professional clubs and organisations, including the WRU and Cardiff City FC, have signed an open letter to the First Minister to ask that the restrictions be changed.
Clubs claim the rules are too restrictive and instead should be changed to allow a small portion of fans in.
They say the Welsh Government’s social distancing rules are unfair and are asking that the restrictions in place in England be applied to Wales.
The Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Scarlets, Phillip Morgan, who signed the letter, has said that the current approach by the Welsh Government shows a ‘disregard for the existence of sport’.
“All we ask is for a similar position to what is gone on in England,” he said.
Fans are also hoping the letter will have an impact. It’s been nine months since any fan in Wales watched a live sports match and many are looking forward to going back.
Cardiff City season ticket holder Ben Karatas says he hopes fans will be let in soon.
“It’s very important for fans like me to be able to go back and support in person, it’s just not the same,” he said.
Other fans think it isn’t right that some English fans have been able to go back to stadiums. Bluebirds supporter Kieran Griffiths says clubs on either side of the border should be treated the same.
“I don’t think it should be split like it has been, where some teams are and some teams aren’t,” he said.
Despite fan and club protests, the Welsh Government appears unlikely to change its mind.
Recent reports show that Covid-19 cases are rising in Wales and the government has announced it is not expecting fan to return to stadiums until after the Spring.