Tottenham Hotspur will trial Covid passports in their pre-season friendly against Arsenal as the Premier League gears up for health checks ahead of the new season and the prospect of fans having to be double jabbed to watch matches from October 1
- Spurs have announced that all adults will have to present an NHS Covid pass
- Checks will be carried out by stewards before fans reach the turnstiles
- Limits on crowds were lifted on July 19, but the government has encouraged event organisers, including in sport, to use Covid passports for large crowds
- Premier League anticipates some, but not all, grounds will have Covid checks from the first round of matches this season, which start on August 13
Tottenham Hotspur are the first Premier League club to announce they will trial the NHS Covid passport ahead of the new season.
Spurs have told supporters that all adults will have to show a pass before entering the stadium ahead of their men’s and women’s teams playing Arsenal on Sunday August 8.
The Covid pass – generated by the NHS app – confirms a person has had two doses of vaccine, has obtained a negative test for the virus or has natural immunity stemming from a previous infection.
Tottenham Hotspur will trial Covid passports at their pre-season friendly against Arsenal
The move comes after Government issued advice for event organisers encouraging them to use ‘Covid passports’ where large crowds are in attendance, including at sports events.
However, while the Premier League is working on plans, it does not expect all clubs to have a scheme in place by the first round of matches starting on August 13 and Spurs are the first to unveil plans.
A number of top flight clubs spoken to by Sportsmail have no plans to use Covid certification in pre-season friendlies despite large attendances, and they are still awaiting advice on what is expected when the league matches begin.
‘Tottenham Hotspur will be trialling the use of the NHS COVID Pass to verify the vaccination or Covid status of supporters attending our Men’s and Women’s matches against Arsenal on Sunday 8 August,’ Spurs said in a statement on the club website.
Spurs are the first Premier League club to announce plans to trial the digital health checks
The club added: ‘All adult supporters attending the Arsenal double-header will be required to present their NHS COVID Pass, generated by the NHS App, on their mobile device as they enter the stadium to confirm they are either fully vaccinated or have received a negative COVID-19 test result within 48 hours of kick-off.
‘Please note, if you have not yet received both required COVID-19 jabs, you will be required to take either a PCR or rapid lateral flow test.
‘Passes will be checked by a steward between the initial ticket check at the bottom of the stairs leading to our podiums and ahead of arrival at our turnstiles.’
Last week, Sportsmail revealed that Government is developing plans to restrict attendance at Premier League football matches to spectators who have had two Covid jabs from October 1, should the prevalence and impact of the virus still be high.
In those circumstances, so-called ‘vaccine passports’ would be required to enter stadiums. These would not allow a supporter to self-test; they would have to be double jabbed.
Covid passports have been used in third phase of Government’s events research programme
The Premier League is supportive of establishing plans for some form of passport if it enables clubs to maintain full capacity, even if Covid surges in the autumn and winter.
Spurs said their trial was part of preparations for October.
‘This follows recent government announcements and the necessity for the Club to begin preparations for the potential of full vaccination against Covid-19 being a condition of entry to large events from 1 October.’
‘It also further ensures the safety and comfort of our supporters, players and staff as we begin hosting capacity crowds for the first time since March, 2020,’ the club added.
