Last updated on .From the section Sport

Cray Valley Paper Mills are one of 10 non-elite teams in the FA Cup first round

All FA Cup first-round ties, including those involving non-elite teams, will be played as planned from 6-9 November.

Elite sports can continue behind closed doors during England's four-week lockdown from Thursday but grassroots and amateur rules are being finalised.

The government has confirmed that the 10 non-elite teams left in the FA Cup can play under elite protocols.

But golf courses, driving ranges and tennis courts in England have been told to close until at least 3 December.

On Saturday, the government confirmed leisure centres and gyms will close, as will other indoor and outdoor leisure facilities. Speaking in the House of Commons on Monday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson ruled out any exemptions.

The BBC is showing 13 of the 40 FA Cup first-round ties, with FC United of Manchester v Doncaster on BBC Two on Saturday (17:30 GMT kick-off).

There will be live streams of 12 further matches on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website over the weekend.

All the matches will be played behind closed doors, with losing teams set to receive a share of prize money to lessen the financial impact of no fans attending.

The Football Association says it "remains in regular dialogue" with the government over what the new lockdown measures mean for "non-elite" football in England.

Late on Monday, Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden clarified that children's grassroots sport played outside of school will be suspended during the lockdown, despite widespread calls for it to continue.

"Unfortunately we need to pause grassroots sport outside school to reduce the transmission risk from households mixing," he posted on social media. external-link

"As soon as we can resume this, we will."

Johnson rules out U-turn on amateur sports but Gove causes confusion

Cases have been made for both golf and tennis to still be permitted outdoors between two individuals from different households, in line with restrictions on exercise.

However, Johnson's official spokesperson said the government would not reverse the decision to close golf courses and tennis courts in England.

Asked why the government is shutting them, he said: "People are able to use public spaces or walk or run in the park.

"The purpose of the tougher regulations, which I expect are going to be difficult for very many people, are to significantly reduce social contact."

Asked in the House of Commons on Monday if he would "reconsider the guidance" on the closure of gyms, golf clubs and tennis courts, Johnson replied: "Once you unpick at one thing, alas, the effectiveness of the whole package is compromised."

Pushed further on outdoor activities and support for indoor leisure facilities, Johnson said he would "look at all the suggestions made and at any exceptions we can sensibly make, but it is difficult to take out one part of the Jenga block without disturbing the whole package", adding that both indoor and outdoor business would receive support.

Cabinet member Michael Gove, speaking in a Facebook Q&A, external-link had said on Monday: "We are looking at allowing people to play on golf courses with one other, appropriately distanced.

"The same applies to tennis - I hope it will be the case that we will be able to refine, and further details will be published tomorrow that you can play one other person..."

But he apologised for the confusion on Tuesday, posting on social media: external-link "My apologies, I got this wrong. Outdoor leisure facilities, including tennis courts and golf courses, will be closed from Thursday."

Golf courses in Wales have been shut since 23 October, but Scotland and Northern Ireland have allowed their courses to stay open.

Tennis courts are also closed in Wales but open in Scotland and Northern Ireland, with protocols in place.

Digital, Culture, Media and Sport select committee chair Julian Knight said he did not think a "blanket ban" that includes stopping golf and tennis in England was the "correct way of going about things".

"These sports are uniquely built for social distancing and they opened safely in the spring in a limited way," Knight told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

Swim England's chief executive, Jane Nickerson, has urged people to sign an open letter to Johnson urging him to reconsider the decision to close "essential" swimming pools and leisure centres, which she says would be "devastating for so many".

The governing body for archery, Archery GB, is also arguing for outdoor ranges to remain open during the lockdown in England "to help boost people's physical and mental health as it is a socially distanced sport".

Source: BBC News

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