Stadium preparation for the day

The practical operations of any stadium hosting matches will depend to a significant extent on whether spectators are permitted to attend or not.

When PST measures are relaxed further to allow gatherings of 500 or more people a Union, Club and competition may be able to discuss limited crowd attendance with government and local public health authorities. Large traditional crowds are unlikely in the absence of an effective and freely available vaccine for COVID-19.

This section is written assuming that matches will initially be held ‘behind closed doors’. No crowds will be permitted and minimal staff will travel with playing squads. Appendix 3 gives an example illustration of the number of stakeholders required to deliver a match without spectators.. The risk of infection and outbreak can be further reduced if broadcast and television staff (where present) are isolated from players and non-playing staff.

Before any Match is held at a designated venue the Union COVID-19 manager and relevant parties would again need to clarify the suitability of the venue and formally risk assess hosting a game at this venue, they would also need to;

  • ensure that the playing group move directly to the dressing room and from there to the pitch. The areas of the venue in use should be thoroughly cleaned immediately prior to match day;
  • ensure that there are in place appropriate controls over who enters and leaves the venue and an appropriate system for recording who enters and leaves the venue (the controls and the system ordinarily in place when matches are not being held might need to be enhanced if the number of likely match day attendees is significant);
  • ensure an itemised accreditation and operations plan with contact details of all personnel to be obtained by the COVID-19 Manager or nominated Operational lead 48 hours ahead of the match;
  • ensure that at the venue there is an appropriate stock of appropriate personal protective equipment (for use by all medics, including Club Medics from the away Club), and a suitable method of safely disposing of that equipment;
  • carefully consider which attendees at the Match are characterised as essential and only accredit these attendees;
  • communicate to all those likely to attend the Match (including relevant Club Managers, Club Coaches, Club Medics, Players, other Club representatives and staff members, Match Officials, Match Day Medical staff, Commercial Partner representatives and Broadcast partner representatives) relevant details of the procedures that will be in operation on Match day, including:
    • details of the locations of the hand-sanitisation and/or hand-washing/drying points at the venue;
    • details of the controls over who may enter and leave the venue;
    • details of the dedicated isolation areas for use by any individuals who exhibit symptoms of COVID-19;
    • that all attendees should, as a precondition to being granted permission to enter the venue, give written confirmation to the COVID-19 Manager or nominated Operational Lead that:
      1. they are to the best of their knowledge currently free from COVID-19;
      2. they have not had any symptoms related to COVID-19 in the 14 days immediately prior;
      3. they have not been in contact with an infected person or potentially infected person in the 14 days immediately prior;
      4. Club medical personnel have taken all infection prevention measures with the addition of the appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) when reviewing an infected person or potentially infected person in the 14 days immediately prior; and
      5. where available, providing written evidence of any relevant COVID-19 testing or immunisation of the individual (whether swab testing, antigen testing, antibody testing, immunisation or otherwise).
  • All attendees should practice appropriate respiratory and hand hygiene/sanitisation techniques, bringing their own individual hand sanitisers and single-use disposable wipes; and
  • implement a suitable system so that any attendees (including players) that subsequently exhibit symptoms of COVID-19 must notify the home Club's COVID-19 Manager and/or relevant COVID-19 Operational Leads, and appropriate steps then be taken in respect to contact tracing and COVID-19 testing where available.