Sport Organisations Back Covid Certification In Open Letter To Political Leaders

A group comprising some of the UK’s biggest sports organisations has sent an open letter to the Prime Minister and political leaders backing the use of Covid-certification – or ‘vaccine passports’ – as a means to reopen large events safely this summer.

The letter, signed by the AELTC, EFL, ECB, FA, LTA, Premier League, RFL, RFU, Scottish Professional Football League, and Silverstone Circuit, publicly backs the use of certification as a means to enabling the return to ‘full venues’ from 21st June onwards.

The group addressed the letter to Westminster party leaders, including Boris Johnson and Keir Starmer, as well as the leaders of the Liberal Democrats, SNP, and Plaid Cymru.

“It is important that we have certainty as soon as possible on the form this guidance will take so we can plan efficiently and effectively with many big sporting events scheduled for late June and onwards,” said the letter.

“The return of fans will give a huge boost to millions who enjoy a day out at a sporting event with their friends and families and be of great benefit to the economy. It is right that every possible action is considered to secure this outcome as soon as possible, but only for as long as an unrestricted return is considered unsafe to fans, matchday staff and the wider public.

“This includes investigating how a Covid certification arrangement could reduce and then safely remove the requirement for social distancing.”

However, the group also highlighted that Covid certification should not be a ‘requirement for any form of participation in grassroots sport,’ and that any approach to the plan ‘must not be discriminatory, should protect privacy, and have clear exit criteria’.

Meanwhile, a number of sporting events will take place in front of spectators in the coming weeks as part of a new government pilot programme to test best practice for the return of crowds.

The EFL’s Carabao Cup Final, as well as the FA Cup Final will be played out in front of a limited number of fans at Wembley in the coming weeks, with the World Snooker Championships also taking place in front of spectators at the Crucible in Sheffield.