THE Football Association of Wales (FAW) has told clubs the final decision on the fate of the game rests with the Welsh Government.

While football has returned in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, in some cases with fans permitted, currently only 16 clubs in Wales have been granted elite status to play behind closed doors fixtures.

The Welsh Government's 30 person cap has meant all football below elite level would be impossible after including four match day officials, coaching staff and medical personnel alongside the two sets of players.

The FAW has been the target of much ire over the past few months as clubs lost patience with the ongoing regulations while sport returned across the rest of the United Kingdom.

However the FAW has now issued a statement and clarified its stance and insisted the decision to impose the restrictive 30 person rule was a Welsh Government decree.

A statement read: The FAW is fully aware of the frustration felt throughout the Welsh football family but it is important to recognise that the association is not responsible for the national COVID-19 policies and guidelines.

"Along with other governing bodies of sport, the FAW must find a way to bring football back as safely as possible within the policies and guidelines set by Welsh Government, which are of course put in place to keep the nation as safe as possible during this unprecedented pandemic in modern times.

"The FAW has held a series of webinars with area associations, leagues and clubs this week to fully explain what the Welsh Government guidelines mean for Welsh football.

"Finally, the FAW and its staff continue to work hard for Welsh football and we all want the safe return of the game here in Wales.

"However, it is important to remind the Welsh football family that the impact of COVID-19 is also felt by the association, which is set to make a significant financial loss as a result of the pandemic and continues to have many of its workforce on the UK Government furlough scheme, in order to prevent redundancies that would have a further detrimental affect on the game throughout the country."