LEGAL ADVICE FOR CLUBS FORCING STARS TO GET JAB

THE Premier League and EFL are taking legal advice about whether clubs can force players to have the Covid-19 vaccine as a condition of employment.

As Sportsmail revealed last month, several clubs are exploring the idea of inserting vaccine clauses in contracts amid concerns about the low take-up rate of the jab, in a move that has gained the support of the leagues.

With rates varying between clubs, the Premier League and EFL want to agree a uniform approach and have asked a leading employment QC to advise on whether it is lawful for the leagues or the clubs to make vaccination a mandatory pre-condition for playing.

Club executives are also speaking to bosses in other industries like hospitality, where some companies have made vaccination mandatory for their staff.

Taking a similar approach would put clubs on a collision course with the PFA. The players’ union supports vaccination in principle but also defends freedom of choice.

Medical staff at several clubs have become frustrated at the number of players who have yet to receive their first jab.

The Premier League are also pushing ahead with plans to introduce Covid passes for all fans attending matches this season, which the Government could make a compulsory requirement for all supporters from October. Chelsea and Tottenham are among clubs who have committed to trialling the scheme at the start of the campaign, with the Government likely to demand they are used in all venues where the attendance is higher than 20,000, which would involve every top-flight club.

The EFL are not trialling Covid passes when their season begins this weekend as the 20,000 threshold would not affect many clubs.

Elsewhere, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will hold talks with Manchester United’s players over vaccinations. A number of United’s squad are yet to be jabbed and last week’s friendly against Preston was cancelled after an outbreak at the Old Trafford club.

‘Some are already fully vaccinated, some are not sure,’ Solskjaer said. ‘But we’re going to have a bigger session now. It’s important everyone knows what it’s about.’

Solskjaer also warned his players not to spend time with supporters inside Old Trafford at tomorrow’s friendly with Everton and at next Saturday’s Premier League opener against Leeds, for fear of catching Covid.