Football fans must show Covid vaccine passports to enter Premier League stadiums from next Wednesday amid Omicron surge

FOOTBALL fans will be forced to show “vaccine passports” to enter grounds from next Wednesday.

Boris Johnson confirmed on Wednesday evening that the government is adopting its Covid “Plan B” in a bid to stop the spread of the new Omicron variant.

In a week's time, people will have to prove they are double vaccinated or give evidence of a negative lateral flow test to go to matches and nightclubs - while working from home and more mask-wearing rules will be adopted from Monday.

Football will feel the immediate effect - with clubs having to enforce the new rules or prevent supporters from entering grounds from December 15, with Brighton, Crystal Palace, Burnley and Arsenal all at home that night.

Brentford vs Manchester United, Norwich vs Aston Villa and Manchester City vs Leeds are on Tuesday, meaning they will go ahead before the new restrictions come into force for sporting events with crowds of more than 10,000 people.

Mr Johnson announced tonight that the NHS Covid pass will be mandatory in England in venues where large crowds gather - including football games.

He also added the "most important thing" was for Brits to get their booster jabs after previously praising the Sun's Jabs Army campaign.

The prime minister said: “It has become increasingly clear that omicron is growing much faster than the previous Delta variant and is spreading rapidly all around the world.

“The NHS Covid pass can still be obtained with two doses but we will keep this under review as the boosters roll out.

“And having taken clinical advice since the emergence of Omicron, a negative lateral flow test will also be sufficient.

“As we set out in plan B, we will give businesses a week’s notice, so this will come into force in a week’s time, helping to keep these events and venues open at full capacity while giving everyone who attends them confidence that those around them have done the responsible thing to minimise risk to others.”

Premier League clubs were warned of the likely imposition of the new regulations during last Friday’s virtual “shareholder” meeting.

But while the clubs are braced for backlash and potential issues from fans who are told they cannot take up seats they have paid for without proof of double vaccination or immune status - they are ready for the challenge.

Top-flight clubs have been preparing for the possibility of vaccine passports for months and were even offered to be “guinea pigs” for trials of the concept.

Prem chiefs calculated that 18 months of no or significantly reduced crowds cost clubs a collective £2billion, with Spurs and Manchester United missing out on £6m in revenue every home match day without supporters in the ground.

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SunSport revealed there are increasing fears of another total lockdown being imposed in the coming weeks, although that is not on the agenda at this stage.

But controls on fans being able to enter have now been confirmed - and the vaccine passports will also be accompanied by other checks.

Fans are likely to be subject to temperature tests at checkpoints before getting to their entry turnstiles.

It is also expected that stricter mask mandates will be imposed, with face coverings required for all indoor areas of grounds and potentially even for fans at their seats.

That will cause issues for stewards who will be under pressure to enforce any new restrictions, especially if there is a public backlash against the edicts.

Tonight, Boris Johnson also told Brits to work from home and use vaccine passports for nightclubs in a fresh Covid squeeze.

At a gloomy press conference, the PM pulled the trigger on the Government's Plan B to tackle the rising tide of Omicron cases ripping across Britain.

He announced he was toughening the rules as scientists warned the NHS could be swamped by 1,000 daily patients infected with the super-strain.

Flanked by top docs Chris Whitty and Patrick Vallance, the PM relayed sobering evidence that the mutation is doubling between every 2.5 and three days.

Giving a Commons statement at the same time Health Secretary Sajid Javid told MPs there are 568 confirmed cases variant - but the estimated current number is "probably closer to 10,000".

It means people will be required to show they're either double-jabbed or provide a negative test for crowded gatherings.

It applies for nightclubs, indoor events with 500 attendees or large outdoor gatherings like sports games.

From Monday the guidance - but not the law - will change asking all but key workers to work remotely as they did from March last year to July's Freedom Day.

Mr Johnson said: "I know this will be hard for many people, but by reducing your contacts in the workplace, you will help slow transmission."

And from Friday current mask requirements will be extended from just shops and public transport to cover all enclosed spaces - but not in pubs.

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