Sporting bodies pressure MPs for Covid passports

THE country’s major sporting bodies have written a joint letter to Boris Johnson and other party leaders collectively backing the idea of Covid passports to enable full stadiums this summer. The Football Association and nine other influential organisations have thrown their weight behind the scheme, which has divided politicians and the public. The open letter was published last night after the FA told UEFA that Wembley will be able to operate at a quarter capacity for each of England’s Euro 2020 group games — allowing 22,500 fans to attend. It is hoped that Wembley will be at least half-full for the semi-finals, but the dream of a 90,000-capacity crowd for the final will only be possible with some form of Covid passport. The Prime Minister confirmed this week that a certification app to prove if people have been vaccinated or tested negative for Covid is being considered as a way to help crowds return to events from June 21. The Government’s proposals have been criticised by Conservative MPs and opposition parties, with Labour and SNP leaders Keir Starmer and Ian Blackford both saying they do not support the plans. However, sports governing bodies have now piled pressure on politicians to vote in favour of Covid certificates. As well as the FA, the open letter has been signed by the Premier League, English Football League,

Scottish Professional Football League, England and Wales Cricket Board, Rugby Football Union, Rugby Football League and Lawn Tennis Association. The All England Lawn Tennis Club and the Silverstone Circuit have also put their name to the letter. It has been sent to Johnson, Starmer, Blackford, Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey and Plaid Cymru’s Liz Saville Roberts. The letter says: ‘We know that our stadia can only be fully filled with an assurance process. This process must ensure that everyone can access stadia and must include arrangements that would verify a negative Covid test or an anti-body test alongside vaccination certification. The final approach must not be discriminatory, should protect privacy, and have clear exit criteria. ‘Based on these principles, we support the review of the use of Covid certification for major events.’ Fans can return to sports events in England from May 17 but, outside of test events, attendance is capped at 10,000 fans or 25 per cent of a venue’s capacity. Gareth Southgate (left) and his England side open their Euro 2020 campaign against Croatia at Wembley on June 13. Meanwhile, there is now just a fortnight between the French Open and Wimbledon. Roland Garros was postponed by a week and will run from May 30-June 13, with Wimbledon set to start on June 28.