EXCLUSIVE: Premier League warns unvaccinated could face tougher rules

Premier League chief writes to warn clubs that unvaccinated players and staff will face tougher restrictions on matchdays and at training grounds, with 16% of top-flight stars having not received ANY Covid jabs

  • Premier League CEO Richard Masters has warned clubs of tougher restrictions
  • Masters said league was exploring additional measures for unjabbed players
  • Around 16 percent of Premier League players are still unvaccinated 
  • Premier League postponed 16 games last month because of COVID and injuries 

Premier League chief executive Richard Masters has written to all 20 clubs warning them unvaccinated players and staff face being bound by tougher Covid restrictions.

In the note sent to top-flight chief executives and chairmen on Wednesday, Masters told clubs: ‘We are exploring the potential of additional measures relating to yet unvaccinated players and staff.’ 

The letter goes on to say that following feedback from their COVID-19 Advisory Group, the Premier League are continuing to consider potential proposals for the stricter restrictions for unjabbed players ahead of discussions with clubs.

Richard Masters has warned Premier League clubs unvaccinated players face tougher rules

But the threat of severer constraints, which could include far stringent restrictions at training grounds and match-days, for football staff provides further evidence of the league’s determination to improve immunisation levels.

In the last set of figures released by the Premier League last month, it was revealed that 16 percent of players were still to be vaccinated – among the highest percentage of unjabbed footballers in Europe.

And the danger of stiffer measures should act as an incentive for unvaccinated players to be immunised.

Around 16 percent of Premier League players are still to be vaccinated

Yesterday’s correspondence also confirmed that their stringent Covid testing regime will no longer include bi-weekly PCR tests for players and staff from today, in line with new Government guidance announced yesterday.

Instead there will be a more significant reliance on lateral flow tests (LFT). Since December 14, players and staff have undergone LFTs on all training days and PCR tests twice a week, as well as following the Government guidance to to confirm a positive LFT result with a PCR.

The new guidelines will see the daily LFT tests continue on every training day and the day before a match. 

The Premier League reported 94 positive cases among players and staff this week

But PCR tests will now only be used to confirm and analyse a positive LFT test, while match-day LFT’s can be agreed on case-by-case basis.

The note read: ‘It is felt the continued use of PCR tests for surviealnce is not providing additional benefit, given daily lateral flow testing and the Emergency Measures in place. 

The experience reported by many clubs is that PCRs create significant operational issues for squads and can lead to confusion, especially when PCR’s remain positive for some weeks after an acute infection.’

The Premier League have also called a meeting for all 20 clubs for Friday. 




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