Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of football matches held in England before 23 March on the spread of COVID-19.

Prior to 23 March the Government, working closely with chief scientific advisers and the Chief Medical Officer took the decision to postpone any banning of sporting events including football matches as there was no evidence to suggest they needed to at the time. As the COVID-19 situation escalated around the world the decision was re-assessed due to the significant risk of spread and all major sporting and mass gathering events were cancelled.