Premier League to introduce 'clinical passport system' for players, coaches and match officials

The Premier League is planning to introduce a “clinical passport system” for players, coaches and match officials to show they have tested negative for coronavirus for when matches resume.

The passports will have to show that the person has had a negative ‘CAT’ test within five days of the match to allow them into the so-called red zone inside the stadium, with a maximum of 105 people permitted in that area.

The red zone covers the pitch, tunnel, dressing rooms and players entrance. After that is the amber zone, which covers the stadium bowl and where media and other officials will be allowed; and a green zone including outside areas such as car parks and the broadcast compound. Everyone in the amber zone will have to undergo a temperature check and fill in a health questionnaire.

The precise details will be discussed during another round of meetings next week ahead of the Premier League resuming on June 17. The first meeting is on June 8 with managers and the League Managers Association followed by one planned for the next day with the captains and the Professional Footballers Association to go through the final set of “match-day protocols” for competitive games.

These will include the hygiene and PPE measures in place, travel plans and what happens before and after matches along with who specifically will be allowed into those coloured coded areas.

The Matchday Operations Plan has already outlined that teams will be limited to 20 players (with up to nine now allowed on the bench), 12 medical and coaching staff, 10 directors and executives, and two press officers. There will then be a meeting of the 20 clubs on Thursday to finalise the restart.

Meanwhile, as the Premier League published its first few rounds of fixtures to complete the season, it is understood to be “confident” of achieving safety certificates for 90 of the remaining 92 matches so they can be played on a home and away basis rather than at neutral venues which have, nevertheless, been approved if they are needed.

The two outstanding games have not been specified but Everton against Liverpool at 7pm on Sunday June 21 has yet to be confirmed for Goodison Park – a decision is expected on Monday – and Manchester City versus Liverpool at 8.15pm on Thursday July 2 is also to be confirmed for the Etihad Stadium. There have also been suggestions that the police and local authorities may oppose whichever game Liverpool can win the title at being played home or away although the reality is it may not be suitable to select a neutral venue for that fixture.

At their meeting on Thursday, the 20 clubs pushed back the issue of what will happen if the season has to be curtailed. The Premier League has suggested there are “three possible routes” for curtailment including having no relegation and expanding the top-flight to 22 or 23 teams. The other two options are for relegation and promotion to take place, as usual, or no relegation of promotion with the same 20 clubs retained for next season.

The Premier League’s intention was to resolve the issue at its next meeting on June 11, with the board providing its “final recommendations and supporting rationale”, which was expected to be a points per game system, but the clubs decide to defer the decision “until conditions require it”.

Among the various scenarios which need to be considered are the curtailment of the Championship, non-completion of the play-off final and the circumstances where some clubs are mathematically relegated and others are not. If the clubs wanted to push to cancel relegation then they would need the prior consent of the Football Association which, so far, has stated it would be opposed to such a move.

A decision still has to be taken on the start date for the 2020-21 season which could be as early as August 22 or as late as September 12 although the Premier League has warned that there will be “significant 2020-21 calendar impact if 12 September start” which will definitely hit the early rounds of the Carabao Cup, for example.