As Covid-19 disrupts football games, Brighton offers payment relief for fans

Brighton & Hove Albion will allow fans to delay payments on season tickets for the 2020/21 campaign by three months to help ease supporters’ cash flow problems amid the economic crisis caused by the Covid-19 coronavirus.

Professional football in England has been suspended until at least April 30.

On Monday, the British government increased restrictions on people leaving their homes for three weeks but for essential work, shopping for food and medicines, and one form of exercise a day.

READ: No soccer matches in England until end of April

Even if the 2019/20 season will be restarted, it is likely that matches will be played behind closed doors to help prevent the spread of the virus and minimise the impact on health services.

Should supporters not be able to attend Brighton’s remaining five home Premier League fixtures, the Seagulls will offer a pro-rata refund.

Payment will still be taken for the instalment of the 2020/21 season tickets due in April, but supporters can apply to have their instalments for May, June and July suspended.

The total cost of the season ticket would still be charged, but spread over eight monthly payments from August.

“We appreciate the uncertainty of the current situation for many people, and we are pleased to offer supporters the opportunity of a three-month payment holiday to try and help alleviate some of the worries of our season ticket holders,” Brighton said in a statement.

“The club asks that in order to support this three-month break, supporters do all they can to meet their April payment. This holiday will impact the club’s cash flow by about £3 million (R61.8 million).”

The chaos caused by mass cancellations of sporting events is expected to see many clubs fall on hard times.

The English Football League last week announced a £50 million relief package to assist financially stricken clubs in the short-term. – Sport24

Get in touch  City Press

+27 11 713 9001 news@citypress.co.za Media Park, 69 Kingsway Road, Auckland Park

Rise above the clutter | Choose your news | City Press in your inbox

City Press is an agenda-setting South African news brand that publishes across platforms. Its flagship print edition is distributed on a Sunday.