ONLY fully-vaccinated fans, including Saints supporters, may be able to attend Premier League matches and other events with more than 20,000 spectators from October under Government plans.
Boris Johnson risks provoking further criticism from backbench Conservatives as ministers seek to extend the future use of vaccine passports from nightclubs to sporting stadiums.
Football fans have warned that plans to exclude supporters who are not fully vaccinated against Coronavirus from attending Premier League matches from October could cause “chaos” at some clubs.
Chairman of the Football Supporters’ Association Malcolm Clarke warned the proposal being considered by the Government to make vaccine passports mandatory for events with more than 20,000 attendees will need to be “managed very carefully”.
Read more
Lemina sends Saints fans farewell message after Nice move
Watts features in Olyroos' Olympic defeat to strong Spain
Saints draw 1-1 with Fulham in behind-closed-doors friendly
Talks are in an early phase with the Premier League to discuss whether supporters who have not been double-jabbed could be barred from entry, the PA news agency understands.
The use of vaccine passports could also be extended to lower divisions and other sports in England as ministers seek to reduce the surge of Covid-19 cases as other restrictions are ended.
Clarke, whose organisation says it represents more than 500,000 members, warned that some football fans may stop attending matches.
He told Times Radio: “I think if they’re going to do this with big football crowds then they need to have the resources to do the checks. I’m not convinced that all football clubs will be able to manage that in a way that doesn’t cause some chaos.
“There will certainly be some football supporters for whom this will be an incentive, who are desperate to get back in the ground and watch their teams.
“There may be others who will say ‘you know what, I’ve got used to being without going to the games and this is the last straw, I’m not coming back’. How it breaks down between those two groups and everything in between, I wouldn’t like to predict.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article