REVEALED: The 21,000 fans allowed at next month’s FA Cup Final at Wembley will NOT have to show they have been vaccinated but MUST provide proof of a negative Covid test
- Government’s Events Research Programme will not require Covid passports
Fans attending the FA Cup final will not need to produce a vaccine passport, just evidence they have received a negative test, Sportsmail can reveal.
It was expected that the 21,000 supporters who will attend the showpiece on May 15, would have to produce a passport, which would confirm vaccination, immunity, or a negative test.
However, it has emerged today that people attending pilot events, which form part of the government’s Event Research Programme, including the FA Cup final will not require a vaccine passport, but just basic Covid certification to show they have tested negative.
Wembley is preparing to host an FA Cup semi final, the final and the Carabao Cup final as part of the government’s Events Research Programme, which launches this month
Government guidance states: ‘Entry will be subject to a negative test result. In practice this will work in much the same way that international travel has taken place in recent months – entry will be denied to those that cannot provide evidence of a negative test result.’
The document added: ‘There will be no requirement for participants to show proof of vaccine. Participants in the ERP pilots published to date will have to provide a basic covid certification that they have tested negative for Covid-19.’
Ministers plan to explore different approaches, including testing on entry to events, to explore what works best to allow the safe return of large numbers of spectators.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he would look at all possibilities to reopen public life
Fans attending the football events will have to test for Covid before and after the matches, in order to monitor any spread of the virus.
While the FA Cup semi final this weekend and Carabao Cup final on April 25, were not due to involve the use of Covid passports, plans for the FA Cup final was expected to include them.