JRG given spot check assurance
SCOTTISH football heaved a sigh of relief last night after news of a breakthrough over vaccine passport spot checks. From October 1, fans over 18 will be required to show they have received both doses of the coronavirus vaccine before gaining entry to games with a crowd of more than 10,000. Football chiefs had feared turnstile chaos at games, including Scotland’s sell-out World Cup qualifier against Israel at Hampden, if the Scottish Government insisted on every fan being individually checked. Clubs, including Aberdeen, also lobbied MSPs over fears of a huge financial hit if unvaccinated season ticket holders demanded their money back. In a statement at Holyrood, however, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon allayed fears when she confirmed that larger events will only require a ‘reasonable
number’ of fans to be checked. The SFA and SPFL Joint Response Group are continuing talks with the government over what constitutes a ‘reasonable number’.
In a statement last night, however, the JRG cautiously welcomed news of a compromise seen as the only viable antidote to turnstile chaos next month. ‘We warmly welcome the indications from the First Minister this afternoon that spot checks look likely to form the basis of vaccine certification at major events,’ said the JRG. ‘We have been in detailed discussions with Scottish Government officials in the past few days as we seek to develop a workable and proportionate methodology.
‘There remain a number of aspects which require to be finalised but we are hopeful that our positive talks will bear fruit and that Scottish football will continue to play a prominent role in reducing the impact of the virus.’ While nightclubs and smaller venues will be expected to check the vaccine passports of anyone who enters, the First Minister accepted the pleas of football chiefs for special dispensation. Anyone working at games — including unvaccinated players — and people who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons will be exempt, with Ms Sturgeon saying: ‘At a venue such as a nightclub, or at a relatively small event, we expect that it will be possible to check vaccine certificates for everyone in attendance. ‘However, at larger events, organisers will be expected to carry out a reasonable number of checks.’