Euro 2020: Fans may have to show covid passports when England-Scotland meet at Wembley

English and Scottish governments are in discussion over plans to require fans to present Covid passports when the ‘auld enemies’ meet at Wembley in Euro 2020, next month.

There will be 22,500 fans at Wembley for the eagerly-awaited fixture on Friday June 18, and 2,600 members of the Tartan Army have secured tickets.

Now, Michael Gove has revealed discussions are taking place between Westminster and Holyrood to implement a covid certification scheme for the match as part of the government’s test programme.

England beat Scotland at Wembley 2-0 when the two sides met in Group A at Euro 96

Wembley Stadium will host two test events in the second round of covid trials in June

The government is also making plans to test covid passports at England’s first game in Group D against Croatia, which will be played on June 13 at Wembley.

A final decision on the tests will have to be taken with the Football Association and UEFA, but if the plans go ahead, the events will be among the first tests of covid passports in England.

The Cabinet Secretary is leading a review into covid certification – popularly known as covid passports. The passports will confirm whether a person has been vaccinated against coronavirus or obtained a negative test.

While no decision has been taken on the implementation of covid passports in England, they are being developed as a way to potentially return large crowds to sports and other events, and may also be used to open theatres and nightclubs.

A first round of covid test events, which took place in April and May, revealed no coronavirus transmission occurred at football matches, where fans were tested and socially distanced.

The Croatia game and the England-Scotland showdown have been included in a second phase of trial events in which government wants to investigate how testing for coronavirus and using covid passports will limit the risk of transmission in larger crowds.

Ministers have not yet confirmed where covid certification will be used in the latest pilots, which also include Royal Ascot and the England-New Zealand test match at Edgbaston.

However, Mr Gove revealed the clash of the auld enemies at Wembley is likely to be one of them and Sportsmail understands the Croatia fixture is also in the plans.

Asked by the Public Administration select committee on Thursday whether covid certification would be considered on a UK wide basis, Gove said: ‘The Scottish government does believe in the potential for domestic certification to play a role but they take a slightly different approach towards the potential delivery of it.

‘But in the meantime, we are working towards an agreed approach towards recognising paper-based recognition of vaccination and testing because, of course, one of the big events coming up is the Scotland-England match in the Euros at Wembley.

2,600 members of the Tartan Army have secured tickets for England-Scotland at Wembley

England fans will have a numercial advantage when Scotalnd visit Wembley in Euro 2020

Paul Gascoigne sealed England’s victory over Scotland in Euro 96 with a stunning solo goal

‘And we want to make sure that in every sense of the word there is a healthy contingent of Scottish fans at Wembley for the match.’

The committee heard that the government is working on different ways in which people could confirm their covid status, including vaccination and  the results of a test.

The NHS app is one option, but people would also be able to go online and print out a PDF file or request a letter by telephone.

The results from the latest round of pilots will have profound implications for sport. Leading sports, including cricket, tennis, motor racing, both codes of rugby and football, have all said they believe covid passports are likely to be necessary to return to full stadia.

Kyle Walker and Robert Snodgrass battle in a 2013 friendly at Wembley – England won 3-2

On Tuesday, Premier League executive director Bill Bush made an impassioned plea for government to press on with the development of the covid certification scheme.

He anticipates a tested functional scheme will be needed between now and the end of the year, if infection rates do not subside in the summer or they surge in the autumn.

Michael Gove has revealed negotiations are taking place with the Scottish government over shared covid certification ahead of the match

Under the government’s roadmap out of lockdown, the earliest date all social distancing measures could be lifted is June 21.

However, it is not clear that this would necessarily extend to large sports events and secure capacity crowds.

The government sees large events as higher risk, not only in terms of the number of fans in stadia, but also their travel to and from matches.

The Cabinet Secretary repeatedly referred to a potential role for Covid passport in returning fans to Premier League fixtures, and suggested they could have a role to play where capacities are above 20,000.

Scotland pushed England all the way in Euro 96 missing a penalty when they were 1-0 down

‘You could imagine a situation where we say that we think that outdoor venues of a particular size are likely to have people congregate in such numbers that [covid certification] would be appropriate.

‘So, if you were to take a threshold… for example, most Premier League clubs with the exception of Fulham have stadia of above 20,000. I think the top eight to 10 teams in the Championship have a threshold of around that. That might be a judgement we would make.

‘And of course, we would apply that from St James’ Park to Brighton and Hove Albion.’

Edgbaston will welcome 18,000 fans each day for the second test against New Zealand

Even so, Gove insisted the debate about whether to require people to prove their covid status at events was “finely balanced”, with the level of vaccination, the ‘hassle factor’, and the ability of passports to reduce spread and restore normal life all in consideration.

He said there was “no ironclad inviolable link” between covid certification and the proposed end in England of all restrictions on big events next month.

However, sports have made clear that if the opportunity is there to use covid passports to return to full capacity, they would take it.

England has an exciting programme of international cricket, with New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and India all touring. Wimbledon is on until July 11, the rugby league Betfred Challenge Cup Final takes place on July 17, the British Formula One Grand Priz is at Silverstone on July 18 and the Premier League and EFL football seasons commence in August.