Every sportsperson in Italy, from the professional game to the amateur divisions, will need a ‘Green Pass’ in order to take part in their sport – the Italian government decided after meeting this week to implement urgent changes to its coronavirus restrictions.Italy’s move comes just days after France president Emmanuel Macron announced that full, double-vaccinations will be mandatory for professional sportspeople in the country from January 15.The ‘Green Pass’ is given out 15 days after a person has been vaccinated for the first time, with the Covid passport-style document also needed to enter swimming pools, festivals, religious buildings, hotels and public transport.It is unlikely to affect Italy’s top football division as it was revealed earlier this month that 98 per cent of all Serie A footballers are double-jabbed in a league that has been unaffected by the Omicron variant so far.Wed, 16/02, 23.00: (3.50) INTER MILAN (3.50) LIVERPOOL (2.20)The information comes as a warning to all the foreign clubs who will visit the two countries as part of the Champions League and the Europa League.It could cause problems for any unvaccinated Liverpool or Chelsea players (who are facing Inter Milan and Lille, respectively).Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has been fully supportive of players getting vaccinated and claimed earlier this month that the club would not be signing any new players who have not had both doses. ‘I think it (being vaccinated) will be influential, definitely, in who clubs sign,’ said the Liverpool manager. ‘If a player is not vaccinated at all, he is a constant threat for all of us.’He doesn’t want to be a threat, it’s not that he thinks “I don’t care about the others”, but he is.’ Tue, 22/02, 23.00: (1.40) CHELSEA (4.90) LILLE (9.00)Fans are affected also. They will need a ‘Green Pass’ in order to enter stadia at any level with the new restrictions beginning on January 6 when Serie A resumes after its winter break. Those sports stars who are double-jabbed will also be exempt from any quarantine rules, but are advised to wear a mask for up to a week after their arrival. In France at the moment, professional and amateur sportspeople need to show a Covid passport to gain access to stadiums and participate in games.France has also become the latest nation to limit spectators at football matches with new Covid rules announced limiting outdoor gatherings to just 5,000 people.It follows similar measures taken in Germany where 15,000 fans are now restricted to Bundesliga matches following rules brought in earlier in December.Spanish top tier heads towards pausing the season due to Covid
