Premier League clubs push back on mandatory vaccinations

A number of Premier League clubs including West Ham are set to tell the government that its plan for mandatory vaccinations for all players and fans is unworkable.

The Government is pushing for it to be a requirement that from October 1st all spectators at sports events of more than 20,000 people must be double-jabbed, but top-flight clubs want the flexibility to allow fans and players to show proof of a negative test instead.

Several clubs including Chelsea, Spurs and Brighton & Hove Albion have announced that fans will have to show Covid passports — either proof of a double vaccination or lateral flow negative test — from the start of the season and the intention is for all top-flight clubs to have a similar system in place within a few weeks.

One unnamed club chairman told The Times that several clubs had shared their concerns about the mandatory element of the plan and that they are hoping the government will agree that the Covid passport system used at Euro 2020 is sufficient.

West Ham has announced that Lateral flow tests are recommended for attendance for the London Stadium for Betway cup on Satuday afternoon but are not compulsory.   Spurs and Chelsea have already announced trials including lateral flow tests for entry to stadia.