CREWE'S League One game at Hull City on Saturday has been pulled out of the EFL 'pilot' progamme.

The fixture at the KCOM Stadium is now back behind-closed-doors after public health officials in Hull refused to give the club the go-ahead because of rising infection rates in the city.

Hull had proposed around 600 fans could attend, not the 1,000 being allowed in to a raft of EFL fixtures on Saturday (September 19).

But approval was needed by Hull City Council and the local Safety Advisory Group with the former's public health department turning it down.

In a joint statement, Julia Weldon, Director of Public Health at Hull City Council and Sam Henderson, Head of Stadium Operations at Stadium Management Company said: "In order for the proposed 'return of fans' pilot match to go ahead at the Hull City versus Crewe Alexandra game it was necessary to meet 10 public event assessment criteria, established by the Association of Directors of Public Health.

"The first of these states that there can be no significant increase in the area's coronavirus infection rate ahead of an event.

"Unfortunately, the rate in Hull currently stands at 15.3 infections per 100,000 people, up from 4.2 per 100,000 people last week. Consequently, on the grounds of public health and public safety, this pilot cannot go ahead and the game will have to be played without fans in attendance."

Crewe, themselves, have applied for their home fixture with MK Dons on September 26 to be included in the 'pilot' programme, while the Alex's visit to Oxford on October 3 could also be a 'pilot' match, unless circumstances change.