Covid Vaccination To Be Made Compulsory For Premier League Players

Premier League players and staff will be told that they have to be double vaccinated from Covid-19 in order to be part of next season.

Earlier this week it was reported that fans will require a 'Covid passport' in order to attend Premier League games next season, in order to return to full crowds.

However it's not just the fans that will have to prove they've had both vaccinations as now players and staff are going to be added to the scheme.

According to the Daily Mail, players will have to have had both doses of their vaccination by October 1st, giving those who are yet to have both another 10 weeks to do so.

It's believed that the Premier League backs the plans as they want to help bring back fans, and avoid any more restrictions, as much as possible.

Liverpool players applaud their fans after playing Crystal Palace on the final day of the season. Image: PA Images

Last season players continued to play by being tested twice a week and had to stick to certain areas of stadiums and training grounds.

That has allowed the sport to continue, pretty much uninterrupted, since the return of the Premier League in June last year.

However those games all took place without fans in the stadium, until the last two games of last season, and the league want full stadiums for the start of next season on August 13th, when Arsenal face newly promoted Brentford.

Football, along with other sports, were worried about being seen to jump the queue when the vaccination process first started at the end of last year.

Any player or member of staff who hasn't had their first vaccination will have to get jabbed in the next two weeks, as there is an eight week wait between each dose.

The report says that only two clubs in England's top tier have so far been able to get all their staff and players vaccinated.

Wembley was fuller during the Euros and fans only needed a negative test 48 hours before the game. Image: PA Images

Players may be able to seek exemption although there is no policy for doing so in place yet and clubs are worried about the effect on attendance when it comes to fans' vaccination passports, especially with young fans.

MLS side CF Montreal had to sell striker Erik Hurtado to Eastern Conference rivals Columbus Crew after he refused to get vaccinated.

The travel rules in Canada meant Hurtado's travel between the club's home and games in the United States would prove tricky.

Whether any Premier League players will have to be sold if they won't get the vaccine remains to be seen.

Topics: Football, Premier League

Ryan Sidle

Ryan is a writer for SPORTbible. He covers all sport from football, formula one, cricket, rugby, tennis, athletics, mma and wrestling. He obviously hates YOUR football team and has no interest in synchronised swimming.

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