(FASTNEWS | ENGLAND) – England manager Gareth Southgate says footballers should be offered the coronavirus vaccine soon because of the risks of playing during the pandemic.
In the UK more than 25 million people have been given a vaccine dose – almost half the adult population.
Footballers have not been been offered a jab but many have travelled across Europe and internationally for matches.
Southgate said football had a “responsibility” to players who “we are asking to keep playing”.
“We are moving to the stage where we are asking athletes to put themselves in situations where they are more likely to catch the virus than others and I think we have a bit of a responsibility to them as well,” Southgate said.
In the UK, health and social care workers were among the first to receive a jab but vaccines have largely been offered by age or to those with existing medical conditions, rather than profession.