Premier League outlines pre-match safety measures ahead of Saints return

The Premier League on Monday detailed various pre-match safety measures as the competition resumes this week after a three-month hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Roughly 300 individuals will be allowed into the stadium on any given matchday through the end of the 2019/20 season, with measures in place as to who can access each zone.

The Red Zone gives access to the pitch, the technical area, the tunnel and the dressing rooms and is restricted to a maximum of 110 people. Only those who have had tests within the last five days can enter and are subject to testing history checks.

The stands, concourses and pitchside interview areas fall under the Amber Zone whilst access to the Green Zone (directly outside the stadium and vehicle parking) will be granted in accordance with the club’s COVID-19 policy.

Players and staff are already required to undergo daily testing, but before leaving for matches, they must submit to COVID-19 checks. With regards to transport, teams can travel via car, coach, plane or train, but must do so adhering to social distancing measures and only in sterile environments.

Clubs, meanwhile, must ensure stadiums are completely disinfected, including changing rooms, technical areas, matchballs, goalposts, corner flags and substitution boards, and hand-santisier dispensers must be readily available throughout the stadium.

Where possible, teams may use different tunnels to access the pitch to avoid congestion and if there is only one tunnel available, players and match officials will stagger their entrance to and from the pitch before, during and after a match.

Southampton, who have already taken precautionary measures by erecting a barrier around St Mary’s Stadium to prevent an outside breach, return to action on Friday at 6 p.m. to take on Norwich City.