Coronavirus

PREMIER LEAGUE clubs are still waiting for guidance on coronavirus protocols with the new season less than a month away.Many of the rules regarding travel, testing and biosecure bubbles will still apply despite the Government ending lockdown restrictions this week.
Premier League clubs are still uncertain over coronavirus protocols for next seasonCredit: AFP
And it is almost certain that supporters will need to have a Covid passport or proof of a negative test before being allowed to attend a game.
But that could prove a logistical nightmare for clubs to organise checkpoints for crowds of up to 75,000, particularly for evening games.
The plan is for all matches to be played at full capacity grounds for the first time since the pandemic struck back in March, 2020.
But rising cases of the virus means that football must now find a way of keeping all of their customers safe without maintaining social distancing.
Premier League chief executive Richard Masters has outlined two objectives for the new season – to complete the campaign with no disruption and to play in full stadia.
The arrangement with Sky, BT Sport and Amazon Prime to screen all Premier League matches live will not apply in the new season.
That means fans will only be able to see most games by travelling to the ground.
But many clubs are wondering how they are going to maintain safety levels, with one senior executive claiming: “It was difficult enough to keep our players secure when the ground was empty last season.
“It’s great news that we can finally have our supporters back, but it does present us with a lot of new problems and no-one has yet explained how we are going to deal with these issues.”
Many of last season’s protocols are expected to remain in place.
That means players will be tested twice a week at training grounds, red and amber zones will restrict the number of people in certain areas of the grounds and press conferences will continue to be carried out via zoom calls.
No decision has yet been made on substitute numbers. Before the pandemic, clubs were allowed to name five subs and use three.
BETTING SPECIAL – CLAIM £180 IN FREE BETS FOR THE OLYMPICS

That number rose to nine and was then reduced to seven last season.
The Premier League have been in constant contact with the Government over the return of crowds and clubs are in talks with their local authorities.
But the lack of clarity is causing concern and many within the game fear the confusion will continue right up to the opening day of the new season.
Boris Johnson begs Brits to show restraint in special Freedom Day press conference from isolation More

MANCHESTER CITY have had to shut down a section of their training base for a deep clean after several academy players tested positive for Covid-19. The Citizens’ Under-18 and U23 teams were set to travel to Loughborough for a training camp this week.
Man City have had to shut off a section of their training ground after an outbreak of Covid-19 in their academy ranksCredit: GETTY IMAGES
But five positive Covid cases in the academy ranks has thrown their plans up in the air.
According to The Athletic, the academy building has been shut off for the next ten days to allow it to be deep cleaned.
Youngsters who have tested positive will have to self isolate away from fellow academy players, staff and first team stars, but will be monitored on site.
The Covid outbreak in City’s academy ranks has thrown a curveball at first team coach Pep Guardiola.
Guardiola had hoped to use some of City’s young guns in the senior side’s pre-season friendly against Preston North End on Tuesday, July 27.
And with some players in isolation for the next ten days, they will most likely miss the fixture.
City’s squad is filled with international stars who competed in either the Euros or the Copa America, leaving only four first team players set to return to training on Monday.
Captain Fernandinho – who signed a one-year extension – will be present, as well as Zack Steffen, Benjamin Mendy and Joao Cancelo.
Cases of Covid-19 continue to rise in England ahead of Monday’s ‘Freedom Day’, which will see pandemic restrictions lifted.
BETTING SPECIAL – GET LEWIS HAMILTON TO WIN THE BRITISH GRAND PRIX AT 45/1

Meanwhile, Boris Johnson’s plan to lift virtually all of England’s pandemic restrictions has been slammed as a risk to the world by 1200 scientists.
Michael Baker – a professor of public health at the University of Otago and a member of the New Zealand ministry of health’s Covid-19 technical advisory group – is disappointed with the UK’s lack of leadership in the public health crisis.
He said: “In New Zealand we have always looked to the UK for leadership when it comes to scientific expertise, which is why it’s so remarkable that it is not following even basic public health principles.”
Man City launch new 2021-22 home kit with tribute to Sergio Aguero More

PREMIER LEAGUE bosses are reportedly exploring the possibility of requiring fans to bring Covid passports to stadiums next season.The concept has been subject to considerable back and forth in recent months, having been initially favoured by the Government before being put on the back burner.
Boris Johnson has spoken openly about plans to enforce Covid passportsCredit: Alamy
Yet the continuing rise in cases, particularly of the Delta variant of coronavirus, has forced a rethink.
According to iNews, the Premier League are in the early stages of working with the Government on a Covid certificate system.
The document would be connected to the NHS app already downloaded by millions for track and trace and to lodge test results.
The Government is said to prefer keeping passports inside the NHS framework with the Prem also considering its own certifcation app.
Alternatively, fans could be asked to show their Covid status as they enter stadiums.
Attendees at Wembley’s Euro 2020 matches were required to show proof of a negative test for the virus within 48 hours of the game.
Prem officials are said to be prioritising plans to ensure the 2021-22 season is completed, when it kicks off in August.
Second on their list is allowing clubs to welcome capacity crowds once again, almost 18 months after they were banned.
JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)
We are urging nightclubs and other venues with large crowds to make use of the NHS Covid Pass. Boris Johnson

Fans have been able to return for brief interludes since the pandemic began, with 2,000 allowed back shortly before the Christmas spike of cases as well as for the final two games of last season.
Multiple test events with thousands of fans took place over the summer, including the Euros, Wimbledon and the Snooker World Championship.
Prime minister Boris Johnson has this week told nightclubs and venues welcoming large crowds to make use of a Covid passport scheme.
He said: “As a matter of social responsibility, we are urging nightclubs and other venues with large crowds to make use of the NHS Covid Pass which shows proof of vaccination, a recent negative test, or natural immunity as a means of entry.”
⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
UK Covid deaths rise by 49 as cases jump by 30% in a week with 42,302 infections – highest since JANUARY More