Manchester United could be one of the first Premier League clubs to safely bring fans back into stadiums thanks to their large capacity.
Fans are still not allowed to attend games in the UK because of the coronavirus pandemic, despite the open-air conditions and plans from clubs to ensure supporters are spread out.
Arguments about whether fans should be allowed into stadiums have raged on since the the Premier League restart last season, particularly because the government have allowed games to be screened in cinemas.
Brighton managed to get around 2,000 fans into the AMEX for a friendly clash with Chelsea at the beginning of September, but haven't been able to do it again since.
Advert
Manchester United chief operating officer Collette Roche, however, believes her club have the right guidelines in place to bring at least 23,500 fans back into Old Trafford.
"We spent around two months working with the government guidelines to develop the right processes and measures," she explained to Sky Sports.
"That's to make sure we can have around 23,500 people in this stadium safely at social distancing.
"I guess sometimes it's quite amusing to understand why people can gather in other settings such as in an aeroplane, restaurant or even in a cinema.
Advert
"But we know we've got the plans and the processes ready to deliver match day here safely."
Fans of teams from other European leagues have been able to seen their teams play this season, including Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-German.
United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer even hinted at the weekend after his side's 0-0 draw with Chelsea that the Red Devils might have managed to nab three points, had fans been present.
"In the second half we pushed on and if the Stretford End is full, we might get that ball over the line," he said.
Lower-league sides, in particular, are desperately lobbying for the safe return of fans to grounds in an effort to secure their financial futures.
Advert
But it remains to be seen whether the government will perform a U-turn on their decision to delay a comeback for die-hard supporters.
Should fans be allowed into stadiums again? Let us know in the comments.
All imagery: PA Images
Featured Image Credit:Topics: Football News, Premier League., Football, Manchester United