Premier League pushes ahead with plans for a Covid-certification scheme for fans to guarantee games can be held with capacity crowds – despite the Government revealing vaccine passports WON’T be needed after restrictions are lifted
- Supporters may need to show a Covid Status Certificate at games next season
- The Premier League’s aim is to create a Covid-free environment at their venues
- This would guarantee that all games can be played in front of a capacity crowd
- However, the government said vaccine passports aren’t needed with rules lifted
The Premier League are pushing ahead with plans to introduce a Covid-certification scheme for fans next season despite the government saying that vaccine passports will not be needed after social distancing restrictions are lifted later this month.
Under proposals being developed in consultation with the government’s Events Research Programme supporters may need to produce a Covid Status Certificate – evidence of two vaccinations or a negative lateral flow test – to attend all matches in the top flight next season.
The Premier League’s aim is to create a Covid-free environment at their grounds to guarantee that all games can be played in front of capacity crowds next season, a goal that chief executive Richard Masters has repeatedly emphasised in talks with government.
The Premier League are moving forward with plans over a Covid-certification scheme for fans
Richard Masters has insisted the top-flight wants to create a Covid-free environment this year
While the government have sanctioned the return of full houses at all sports and entertainment venues after the nationwide reopening on July 19, Premier League executives are conscious that a worsening of the hospitalisation rates could lead to restrictions being re-introduced in the winter and want to ensure they are unaffected.
As a result the Premier League will continue to test players and staff for Covid-19 twice-a-week, while the number of tests made available to each will be increased from 85 to over 100.
The EFL in contrast have abandoned weekly testing and will only reintroduce it if there is an outbreak at a club, while they have no plans to bring in Covid certification.
Supporters may need to produce a Covid Status Certificate to attend all matches next season