Fans face Covid checks to attend summer events
Spectators face having to produce a negative coronavirus test or prove they have been vaccinated to attend sporting events this summer, after the Premier League and other major bodies wrote to Boris Johnson in support of his Covid passport plans.
The Football Association, English Football League, Scottish Professional Football League, England and Wales Cricket Board, Rugby Football Union, Rugby Football League, All England Club and Silverstone Circuit last night co-signed a letter to the Prime Minister and leaders of the four other main parties in Westminster backing the measure to get capacity crowds back into stadiums from June 21.
Johnson is facing opposition from other party leaders and Conservative MPS to his plans to bring an end to the coronavirus crisis ahead of a vote on the issue, but British sport was united last night behind it.
The letter was sent as plans were revealed for there to be at least 22,500 fans at Wembley for each of England’s Euro 2020 group
matches. It said: “All of our sports can see the benefit that a Covid certification process offers in getting more fans safely back to their sport as quickly as possible. We know that our stadiums can only be fully filled with an assurance process.
“This process must ensure that everyone can access stadiums and must include arrangements that would verify a negative Covid test or an antibody test alongside vaccination certification.
“The final approach must not be discriminatory, should protect privacy and have clear exit criteria. We also reiterate that certification should not be a requirement for any form of participation in grass-roots sport around the country.”
The letter said the sports were committed to working closely with the Government’s Events Research Programme, which will include crowd pilots taking place at an FA Cup semi-final and the final, the Carabao Cup final and the World Snooker Championship.
It added: “We also understand that further guidance will be issued by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and the Sports Grounds Safety Authority. It is important that we have certainty as soon as possible on the form this guidance will take so we can plan efficiently and effectively.
“The return of fans will give a huge boost to millions who enjoy a day out at a sporting event and be of great benefit to the economy. It is right that every possible action is considered to secure this outcome as soon as possible.
“We look forward to working with government and all interested parties, including our stakeholders and fans, to deliver the great sporting summer the nation craves.”
Meanwhile, a decision on stripping Dublin or Bilbao of their European Championship matches was on a knife-edge last night as Uefa scrambled to prevent the tournament being thrown into chaos.
European football’s governing body was poised to rule on whether Wembley and other venues would be approached to take on more games after two of the competition’s co-hosts were unable to provide assurances they could admit fans.
With doubts also remaining about whether Munich and Rome would be able to do so, there was a growing feeling last night that Uefa would need to relax its requirement for all matches to have supporters, to avoid a logistical and legal nightmare barely two months before the kick-off.
The FA, meanwhile, has told Uefa it is planning for Wembley to be at least 25 per cent full for the three group games and last-16 tie it is hosting. It has been given more time to provide a figure for the semi-finals and final, but is aiming for at least 50 per cent capacity.
A final decision on host venues will be taken on April 19.