Meanwhile, Colchester United chairman Robbie Cowling said in an open letter to the prime minister on Wednesday he was "astounded" by the decision.

"With this one decision you have not only threatened the livelihoods of the staff at Colchester United and the local businesses that rely on our club, and not only those staff and local businesses of every other football club in the EFL, but those of every club across every sport in the UK," he said.

"Just so I understand it when I'm having to lay off even more staff, can someone explain to me again how I can safely sit in a confined aeroplane with 300 other passengers, and I can safely eat inside a restaurant or drink inside a pub until 10pm, but I can't safely attend a football match which is predominately outside and has been certificated as safe by a SAG (safety advisory group)?"