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London Stadium zones explained

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Red Zone
Only people who have had tests in the five days before a match can enter. The zone includes the pitch, the technical area, the tunnel and the dressing rooms.

These people must have a “clinical passport”, a bar code either as a print-out or on their phone. This is scanned to check their most recent test result is negative before they can enter the stadium.

The maximum number of people allowed in this zone is 110 broken. Each team will be allowed 20 players, 12 coaching and medical staff and a further five “essential staff”.

Amber Zone

This covers all areas of the inside of the stadium with the exception of the Red Zone. It includes stands, concourses and pitchside interview areas.

Entry and exit points are strictly managed and, to gain access, individuals must have completed a medical questionnaire, as well as having their temperature checked on arrival.

Green Zone

This is the area outside the stadium, where access control points, vehicle parking and outside broadcast compounds and units are located.

Access will be granted in accordance with the home club’s COVID operational policy.

Players journey to the stadium and regulations 

In line with the Return to Training Protocol, players and staff are required to still undergo daily health screening. 

Before leaving for a match, they must complete relevant checks and report any symptoms.

Teams can travel to the stadium via car, coach, plane or train, but must do so in sterile environments.

In all of these transport modes, they must apply social distancing, with appropriate space between occupied seats and full hygiene measures observed.

Those players or staff driving their own vehicles should do so alone.

Teams will take the field separately, not side-by-side, and games will feature drinks breaks midway through each half.

Players will line up for the Premier League anthem in a staggered formation rather than form a straight line as before.

There will be no pre-match handshakes between teams and no handshakes at the coin toss.

 There will be no ballboys or ballgirls and players will have to use spare balls placed around the pitch if a match ball goes into the stands.

Players must maintain distance during goal celebrations.

Players cannot spit or clear their noses on the field of play.

Players must avoid mass confrontations with opponents and cannot crowd match officials.

Players should use their own water bottles and make use of hand-sanitisers before and after every match.

Medical staff will wear protective equipment when treating players.

Substitutes and managers on the bench will not be required to wear masks and players do not have to wear them when entering the stadium or dressing room.

Teams can have nine players on the bench instead of seven and can make five substitutes during a match, instead of three.

The technical area for managers will be reconfigured to allow for greater social distancing, as will team dugouts.

Corner flags, goalposts, substitution boards and match balls will be thoroughly disinfected before games.

Clubs will be encouraged to travel by plane and avoid staying in hotels before games.

Clubs are expected to use at least three coaches for matchday travel with drivers who have already undergone novel coronavirus tests.

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I am Season Ticket Holder in West stand lower at the London Stadium and before that, I used to stand in the Sir Trevor Brooking Lower Row R seat 159 in the Boleyn Ground and in the Eighties I stood on the terraces of the old South Bank. I am a presenter on the West Ham Podcast called Moore Than Just a Podcast A Blogger on West Ham Till I die a member of the West Ham Supporters Advisory Board (SAB), Founder of a Youtube channel called Mr West Ham Football at http://www.youtube.com/MrWestHamFootball,

I am also the associate editor here at Claret and Hugh.

Life Long singer of bubbles! Come on you Irons!

Follow me at @Westhamfootball on twitter