The British government recently announced that match attendees and players will have to prove that they have taken two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine from the 1st of October.
Premier League clubs wanted the regulations relaxed so that the fans and players could attend games after showing a negative test instead at least during the starting of the season.
It was expected that the Premier League players will also have to take the vaccines but it appears that there are no mandatory rules regarding vaccination as far as the players are concerned. Though Premier League would encourage all the players get vaccinated before the 2021-22 season starts.
According to The Athletic, the Premier League players will not be initially required to have the vaccine.
If the players had been forced to take double doses before they were allowed to play, several clubs would have struggled to field their key players this weekend. The duration between the two doses would have forced several players to stay on the sidelines for a considerable period.
However, the Premier League is still adapting to the pandemic situation and the safety measures are likely to be ramped up.
Apparently, every club will continue to conduct bi-weekly tests on players and they will switch from PCR tests to lateral flow tests.
The current safety protocols are under review as well and an evaluation is expected to take place by October.
The Premier League kicks off on Friday and the fans are set to return to stadiums after a long hiatus.
The supporters will be asked to present a negative lateral flow test 48 hours before kick-off or show proof of double vaccination before they are allowed into grounds. The rules with regards to the fans can vary from club to club.
Meanwhile, the restrictions on player celebrations are likely to be relaxed as well.
Last season the players were encouraged to avoid handshakes, high fives and hugs during celebrations but that will no longer be the case in the upcoming season.
