Premier League fans face covid spot checks
August 10 – Random Covid spot checks are to be carried out among fans attending Premier League matches in the opening few weeks of the new season.
Coronavirus
2021 Arab Cup in Qatar will have mandatory vaccination policy
August 3 – FIFA and local organisers have confirmed a mandatory vaccination policy for all ticket holders at the 2021 Arab Cup, a World Cup dress rehearsal in Qatar in December.
Coronavirus: Rio lifts fan ban to 50% capacity for fully vaccinated
July 30 – Rio de Janeiro local authorities will allow fully vaccinated fans to attend live matches in September with stadium capacity limited to 50%.
Premier League urges clubs to trial vaccine passports, Chelsea and Spurs go first
July 30 – The English Premier League is calling on all its 20 clubs to trial Covid-19 vaccine passports ahead of possible government-mandated guidelines from October 1.
Chelsea to demand fans show proof of vaccination or negative test before ground entry
July 29 – English Premier League club Chelsea are demanding that fans attending games in the new season will need to prove they have been fully vaccinated or show evidence of a negative Covid-19 lateral flow test.
Spurs to trial covid passes in pre-season for Arsenal friendly
July 28 – Tottenham Hotspur have become the first English club to announce Covid passes for supporters, bringing them into force for fans attending the men’s and women’s pre-season friendlies against Arsenal next month.
English plan to make vaccine passports mandatory for stadia meets opposition
July 26 – Plans by the British government to ban supporters who have not been fully vaccinated from Premier League and other professional grounds has been met with scepticism from supporters’ groups, human rights organisations and opposition politicians.
Florida Cup empties as Inter join Arsenal in last minute pull out
July 22 – Inter Milan have joined Arsenal in withdrawing from the upcoming Florida Cup because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Arsenal cancelled the pre-season trip after a “small number” of their touring party tested positive for Covid-19.
Covid travel rules force Man City and Troyes to call off pre-season freindly
July 22 – Yet another pre-season tour has been hit by Covid with Manchester City scrapping their friendly against Troyes in France due to UK travel regulations, meaning Pep Guardiola’s side will play just two warm-up games before they begin their Premier League title defence at Tottenham next month.
MTK Budapest to us covid-containing coating in stadium
July 22 – Face masks, social distancing and hand sanitising aren’t the only way to stop the spread of covid. Hungarian club MTK Budapest is coating areas of its stadium with an antimicrobial coating.
Belgians hope Covid Safe Ticket will return Pro League stadia to full capacity
July 21 – Belgium’s top flight league wants to welcome capacity crowds once again in August.
Premier League ramps up plans for Covid passport scheme for fans
July 21 – Fans attending Premier League grounds from the end of September may have to show proof they have been double vaccinated under plans being considered by the British government.
Arsenal pull out of pre-season Florida Cup after players test positive
July 21 – Arsenal have cancelled their pre-season tour to the United States after suffering a small number of positive Covid-19 cases.
South African men’s team quarantined in Tokyo after three test positive
July 20 – Two South Africa footballers have become the first competitors to test positive for coronavirus in the athletes’ village in Tokyo – just days before the start of the Olympic Games.
Bundesliga to restart with up to 25,000 fans at matches
July 8 – German authorities have green lighted the return of fans to next’s season Bundesliga with the total number of supporters per match capped at 25,000.