Fans to wear tags at semi-final as York pilot event is scrapped
Spectators at tomorrow’s FA Cup semi-final could be asked to wear tracking devices.
Fans at the first match with a crowd this year will be monitored by experts in crowd dynamics.
The consent form sent to those attending tomorrow, and the Carabao Cup final next Sunday, says: “A small sample of attendees may be asked to wear tracking devices for a period of time during their attendance. The wearing of this device is entirely voluntary.
“This device enables their movement [paths, locations, etc] to be tracked within the event. No other information is generated. The data will not be associated with the individual’s identity. At any point, the participant can return the device and stop being tracked in this way.”
Data obtained from the monitoring, which is being conducted by the company Movement Strategies, will be analysed to measure how behaviours may influence the risk of transmission of coronavirus within different settings.
The consent form for the games – Leicester City v Southampton tomorrow and Manchester City v Tottenham Hotspur next week – also states they will operate with social distancing of 0.9 metres.
The two matches are part of the Government’s Events Research Programme.
Meanwhile, plans to stage a crowd pilot at York racecourse have been scrapped amid warnings it risked spreading Covid-19 variants.
Talks had taken place about next month’s Dante Festival joining the Events Research Programme. But the racecourse said yesterday the festival on May 12-14 would take place behind closed doors.
Rachael Maskell, the MP for York Central, had raised concerns about the potential pilot in the House of Commons on Thursday.
She said: “The reopening of the economy is something that we all welcome. However, to leap from this to the mass gatherings at sporting event trials is deeply disturbing on the terms that they are being proposed – not least at York racecourse.”
A racecourse spokesman said: “There were discussions with the Event Research Group, the body that government has set up to manage pilot events, as to whether the Dante Festival might have a role to play. Discussions were held with the key stakeholders in the city and the sport and there was a recognition of the bigger picture benefits.
“However, despite good progress and support at local and ERG level, we have not been able to get sufficient clarity from government to enable us to proceed. So we can confirm the Dante Festival will operate as a ‘behind closed doors’ event, in line with the appropriate protocols for the continuance of elite sport, so will not be a pilot event.”