Unrest over Covid snoopers in dressing rooms

PREMIER LEAGUE snoop squads are being given access to dressing rooms on match days in a move some fear brings the integrity of the competition into question. Sportsmail can reveal top-flight clubs have been sent ‘emergency guidance’ which includes a host of stringent new protocols. Clubs have been told they must allow a compliance officer or match-day co-ordinator to enter their dressing rooms on request to ensure anti-Covid rules are being respected. Officials believe that could cause problems, with team news and tactical information at a greater risk of being leaked. The Premier League are adamant that will not be the case, with inspectors avoiding times when confidential discussions are taking place.

The significant ramping-up of safety measures, triggered by the surge in coronavirus cases and the rapid spread of the new variant, is felt by the Premier League to be a common-sense approach. Players, managers and coaching staff have been told to avoid handshakes and hugging — particularly with the opposition. Shirt-swapping is now banned, and clubs have been warned

the snoop squads will apply a ‘more robust policy to reporting any breaches’. Substitutes must now wear face coverings unless they are warming up, along with physios and medical staff. ‘I cannot imagine managers being too happy with having a stranger in the dressing room as they are announcing their team and giving out instructions on the opposition,’ said one insider. ‘We get why measures have to be stepped up but this feels a little unrealistic.’ Clubs on away trips will have to allow officials to inspect coaches, trains and planes, and they have been advised that, if travelling by road, they should use three coaches to allow for social distancing on board.