THE Premier League has written to Boris Johnson to back vaccine passports to pack out stadiums this summer.
The footy body and other major sports groups including the England and Wales Cricket Board, Wimbledon and the RFU told the PM and other party leaders ‘Covid certificates’ are needed to ditch social distancing in stadiums.
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The letter says all the sports “can see the benefit that a Covid certification process offers” in order to fill out stands.
But they warn: “The final approach must not be discriminatory, should protect privacy, and have clear exit criteria.”
The letter was sent to the PM, Labour’s Sir Keir Starmer and the Westminster leaders of all the other parties.
It said that if certificates fail and attendance are capped for the foreseeable it will “be insufficient to end sport’s Covid financial crisis.”
From May 17 venues will be allowed to have limited numbers of fans back in grounds – up to 10,000 in bigger stadiums.
The FA Cup final on May 15 is a pilot mass event and will see 20,000 spectators return to watch live action.
Ministers announced ‘Covid-status certificates’ will be required later this year to stave off further waves of the virus.
They are expected to be based on vaccinations, recent tests or natural immunity.
Sports chiefs from the English Football League (EFL), the FA, the Lawn Tennis Association and Silverstone Circuit also back the proposals, saying in the letter: “It is important that we have certainty as soon as possible on the form this guidance will take so we can plan efficiently and effectively with many big sporting events scheduled for late June and onwards.
“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, matchday staff and the wider public.
“This includes investigating how a Covid certification arrangement could reduce and then safely remove the requirement for social distancing.”
They also reiterate that certificates should never be used for grassroots sports.
A Government spokesperson said: “We welcome the constructive approach from major British sports as we explore how testing Covid certification and other steps can help get more fans back into stadiums and other large events safely.
“We want as many fans as possible to be able to enjoy a great British summer of sport, safely.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
