Sporting bodies support vaccine passports ‘to avoid financial ruin’
SOME of Britain’s leading sporting bodies have backed Covid passport trials as they believe only a return to full capacity crowds can “end sport’s Covid financial crisis”.
Signatories of a letter supporting the scheme included the Premier League, the Football Association, the Lawn Tennis Association and the England and Wales Cricket Board.
It was sent to Boris Johnson, the Prime Minister, and the leaders of Britain’s major political parties.
It argues that sports clubs could still lose money when stadiums are open to a limited number of spectators from May 17.
The intervention will give the Government a timely boost as it attempts to see off a Tory backbench rebellion over Covid status certification.
A scheme for checking whether someone has had a Covid jab, negative test or natural immunity is being developed by the Government, with trials at large events on the way.
Part of the letter reads: “The return of fans will give a huge boost to millions who enjoy a day out at a sporting event with their friends and families and be of great benefit to the economy.
“It is right that every possible action is considered to secure this outcome as soon as possible, but only for as long as an unrestricted return is considered unsafe to fans, match day staff and the wider public.
“This includes investigating how a Covid certification arrangement could reduce and then safely remove the requirement for social distancing.”
Another section read: “Sporting events can continue to plan for the return of small numbers of spectators from May 17. At this stage of the process all spectators will need to follow social distancing requirements and attendance will be capped at a maximum of 25 per cent of larger venue’s capacity. However, this will still be insufficient to end sport’s Covid financial crisis.”
Other organisations to sign the letter included the English Football League, the Rugby Football League, the Rugby Football Union, the Scottish Professional Football League and the Silverstone Circuit car racing track in Northamptonshire.