Why Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday could have just moved a step closer to returning to action... and what it means for fans hoping to watch

A 60-page document, entitled 'OUR PLAN TO REBUILD: The UK Government’s COVID-19 recovery strategy', was published today following prime minister Boris Johnson's speech last night, outlining his 'roadmap' going forward to deal with the coronavirus crisis.

Contained in the document was reference to 'Permitting cultural and sporting events to take place behind closed-doors for broadcast, while avoiding the risk of large-scale social contact.'

The report also warns that "it is likely that reopening indoor public spaces and leisure facilities (such as gyms and cinemas), premises whose core purpose is social interaction (such as nightclubs), venues that attract large crowds (like sports stadia), and personal care establishments where close contact is inherent (like beauty salons) may only be fully possible significantly later depending on the reduction in numbers of infections."

But step two of Johnson's roadmap includes permission for sporting events - including football - to take place, without crowds, for broadcast. That is conditional, however.

"The content and timing of the second stage of adjustments will depend on the most up-to-date assessment of the risk posed by the virus," Johnson's report added.

"The current planning assumption for England is that the second step may include as many of the following measures as possible, consistent with the five tests. Organisations should prepare accordingly."

Sport is one of those measures, alongside opening non-essential retail stores and allowing some children to return to school.