A looming disaster for poor clubs

Fans have long been looking forward to returning to the stands when the new football season kicks off next month. Now many could find themselves turned away if the Government imposes vaccine passports for sporting events, concerts and festivals.

Such a move would be a bitter blow for supporters, clubs and players alike.

Unlike the Premier League, bankrolled by lucrative TV deals, most lower league sides rely on the gate for the majority of their income.

For them, the last 18 months has been a struggle for survival.

What has kept them going has been the prospect of once again seeing fans coming through the turnstiles. So if the Government presses ahead with this move it could spell economic disaster for some clubs.

As the Euros have shown, football has a unique ability to bring people together.

Ministers do not appear to understand that clubs are far more than just sport.

They are the lifeblood of communities that give people a sense of pride and belonging.

The introduction of Covid passports would not only deprive lower league clubs of muchneeded income, it would discriminate against younger supporters not yet double-jabbed.

Nor it is clear whether the scheme would work when it is still possible to catch the virus even if you have had both doses of the vaccines.

This is yet another example of this Tory administration making up policy on the hoof.

In February the vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi ruled out the use of vaccine passports, now he claims they are way forward.

Don’t forget we would not be in this situation had the Government not failed to close our borders in time to stop the Delta variant.

Instead of trying to introduce ineffective and discriminatory Covid passports, ministers should be trying to sort out the test and trace regime which is still not functioning properly despite the £37billion lavished on it.