Football fans who have not had both jabs could be turned away from Premier League games from October under Government plans.
Boris Johnson risks provoking further criticism from backbench Conservatives as ministers seek to extend the future use of vaccine passports from nightclubs to sporting stadiums.
Talks are in an early phase with the Premier League and the mandatory requirement could also be extended to lower divisions as well as other large scale events with more than 20,000 spectators.
In unseated events such as music gigs, where there are greater concerns about strangers mingling and spreading Covid-19, the threshold for their introduction could be as low as 5,000 attendees.
A Government source said: ‘It’s important that fans can continue to watch sporting events over the autumn, which is why we’re exploring the role vaccines might play in this.
‘This will not only allow full capacity stadiums but has the added bonus of incentivising people of all ages to go and get their jab.’
One area still said to be under discussion is whether a recent negative test could allow entry to football matches, but their use has been ruled out for nightclubs.
The Prime Minister sparked a backlash when he made the nightclubs announcement on Monday, as he ended most of England’s remaining coronavirus restrictions and allowed the venues to reopen for the first time since March last year.
He said they could also be made a condition of entry for ‘other venues where large crowds gather’, adding: ‘Proof of a negative test will no longer be sufficient.’
Shadow sports secretary Jo Stevens said: ‘To insist on vaccine passports less than a month before the start of the season will cause major disruptions, especially for clubs at the lower end of the pyramid.
‘Labour has been clear that the use of Covid vaccination status alone will exclude those who can’t be vaccinated or haven’t had the jab because of delays.
‘Being double jabbed doesn’t prove you aren’t carrying the virus. Testing for access to venues would be more efficient.’
Making their use mandatory in the Premier League from October, however, would give time to phase in their use with the season starting on August 14.
The English Football League declined to comment, but it is understood contingency plans have been under discussion in case the Government advised the use of vaccine passports.
Some fans could challenge the requirement by pointing to the Government’s events research programme, which was based on testing and vaccine status.
According to a Football Supporters’ Association survey of 5,000 fans, three-quarters of them are ready to make an immediate return to stadiums.
But the results also showed that almost half would feel more comfortable if a vaccine passport was required for entry.
The poll found that while 74.8% are keen to make an immediate return, 46.9% would feel much more comfortable, or somewhat more comfortable, if proof of vaccination or a negative test were required for entry.
A vaccine passport was even more of a concern among the 22% of respondents who said they would not be returning straight away, with 67.7% of that group saying such a scheme would make them much more comfortable or somewhat more comfortable.
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