Tottenham’s strict rules on COVID-19 (for those that go)
All supporters coming to our stadium in the future will have to provide proof of complete Covid-19 vaccination or evidence of a negative lateral flow test within 48 hours of kick-off or be ejected. The club’s code of conduct asks all those attending to download the NHS app to authenticate the vaccination or their Covid-19 status.
The friendly I went to at Tottenham stadium, against Arsenal, first trialled using testing and it will be in place again for this season. I did notice, however, that the Steward conducting the checks couldn’t always get his machine-checker to check that everybody was ok and just let them in.
As for other clubs, most will have obligatory Covid-19 checks, but the clubs will follow the current Premier League procedures, including potential spot checks.
EFL requirements
The EFL has issued its own code of conduct, which will be implemented as each club sees fit based on stadium capacity.
With 25 of the EFL’s clubs having a stadium capacity of 20,000 or more (the rest, less so), they have asked clubs to reflect how the introduction of mandatory Covid-19 status checks might impact matchday operations.
As part of the regulations issued by the EFL, clubs are also urged to remind supporters to follow the government guidelines and get vaccinated.
Mark Palios, chairman of League Two Tranmere Rovers, believes obligatory certification may be undesirable from a financial standpoint, but clubs will do it “if it’s the right thing to do”.
With this season’s matchday procedures, the Premier League has insisted it will “continue consulting with all key stakeholders, including the Football Supporters’ Association, and will be running a series of fan-engagement campaigns to help all ticket-holders ensure they are match ready”. It will also continue “working with clubs to introduce Covid-19 status checks in a staged way, so there is the least disruption and maximum safety possible”.
Thoughts
Easy said than done. As I witnessed at the Tottenham stadium, once big numbers start to push their way in through to the turnstiles, it will be almost impossible to implement such checks, and the fans will just be allowed in. So those that haven’t been jabbed or had any sort of test will just wait for the right moment to get in. A lot of it will be just charades for the benefit of the authorities. It is a bit like away game announcements about standing; clubs quite frequently tell supporters, over the tannoy, to sit down, but they don’t follow it through. Most of the time, stewards just laugh when it comes over the speakers.
When I went to the League Cup Final and you had to show a Natural Flow test, the stewards just glanced at them and let you through. You could have shown an old reading or a forged one. But it is all about playing the game; that way everybody is satisfied.
Stay safe, Glenn
My name is Glenn Renshaw.
I am currently a Premium Season Ticket holder (West Stand) in the new stadium. Before that – at White Hart Lane – a season ticket holder in various parts of the ground (mainly in the North stand).
Before becoming a season ticket holder, I stood on the shelf and various other parts of the ground since the 1950s. In 1987 I became one of the first to hold a Spurs Membership card. I was also a life long member of the Spurs supporters club (now defunct).
I go to all home, away and abroad matches.
I was born in 1955, Edgware, London (it was in the late 50s – as a baby – that my dad took me to Spurs to initiate me). I currently live in Berkshire.
I also collect all Spurs books (and have everyone printed), Spurs handbooks (from 1920s onwards, Spurs programmes (since the 40s).
Previously, I wrote for Spurs Fanzines: The Spur, Spur of the Moment, My Eyes have seen the Glory and various other Spurs fanzines’. I also wrote for the SpursWeb app & its website.
I currently write and work for spursnetwork.com and its website. I write its Reviews & Match reports and a lot more.
My other interests are; reading, history, social history, Politics, going to the gym, wine, going out for a meal, music (all sorts), writing, theatre, concerts, going on holidays, socialising etc.
I have been writing blogs/ articles since 1989
If you wish to read more of my blog, please click “here”
