FOOTBALL fans can breathe a sigh of relief as Boxing Day games WILL go ahead at full capacity.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed on Tuesday that he will NOT be introducing new Covid restrictions until at least December 27.
And therefore punters can unwind after Christmas Day with a trip to the footy in packed-out grounds.
Mr Johnson's announcement means Boxing Day football will be able to go ahead with crowds in England, unlike in Scotland where they will be limited to 500 fans.
While Christmas and Boxing Day are safe from being blighted by restrictions, Downing Street insiders refused to rule out tougher rules immediately after the weekend.
Mr Johnson could yet announce plans for restrictions ahead of the Christmas weekend, but time has run out to get them voted on and introduced before early next week.
He will spend Wednesday mulling over new hospitalisation data before making a decision on what measures may be needed next week.
But with the House of Commons requiring a minimum of 24 hours to be recalled and a day to legislate on new regulations, Christmas Day plans and crucial Boxing Day football fixtures are safe from legally enforced lockdown measures on crowds being capped.
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Speaking on Tuesday, Mr Johnson said: "What I can say tonight, is that naturally we can't rule out any further measures after Christmas.
“And we're going to keep a constant eye on the data, and we'll do whatever it takes to protect public health.
"But in view of the continuing uncertainty about several things – the severity of Omicron, uncertainty about the hospitalisation rate or the impact of the vaccine rollout or the boosters, we don't think today that there is enough evidence to justify any tougher measures before Christmas.
"We continue to monitor Omicron very closely and if the situation deteriorates we will be ready to take action if needed."
The announcement comes a day after Premier League teams decided to continue playing over the festive period despite the recent spike in Covid cases.
Six out of 10 games were postponed at the weekend, with others ordered to play on despite requests from beleaguered bosses.
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