Maltese firm Chiliz believes its blockchain technology could be used to let fans back into sports stadium safely by providing ID and proof of immunity to Covid-19.
 
The company created the Socios.com fan voting and rewards app and plans to extend Socios Pass so fans can return to stadiums and watch live games more safely and securely.
 
While Covid-19 continues to wreak havoc across the globe, many leading health experts believe that immunity certificates or passports issued by health authorities will be needed to allow individuals to return to normal life. This is especially the case for attendance at large-scale public gatherings, such as football matches.
 
When sporting action returns, the expectation is that it will be behind closed doors. While larger clubs will receive an initial boost from TV revenues, sport in general will continue to bear the heavy financial consequences of lost revenues from ticket sales and sponsorship.
 
Socios Pass will use blockchain technology and QR codes to allow fans holding proof of immunity to return to stadiums, protecting the long-term economic future of sporting entities and allowing fans to watch their beloved teams.
 
Chiliz is already working with Socios.com partners including FC Barcelona, Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain, Atlético de Madrid, Galatasaray, AS Roma and CA Independiente to engage fan in the absence of live matches. Early responses from the clubs to longer-term ways to overcome the problems caused by Covid-19, including Socios Pass, have so far been positive.
 
How this works starts when an individual receives a digital immunity certificate from their local health authority. They can then create a free Socios.com account, connecting their identity and proof of immunity documentation into their profile, where it is verified by Socios.com specialists. Once their Socios Pass is verified, the individual is free to go and watch their favourite team play again.
 
The user would arrive at the stadium with the Socios.com app open, and show a secure one-time use QR code, which serves as ID and health status verification. The steward at the stadium would scan the user’s Socios Pass in seconds, using the profile photo to confirm their identity. The user is then free to enter the stadium and watch the match.
 
Stewards at the gates to the stadium of each participating club will be provided with a secure one-click application capable of scanning the QR codes generated by Socios Pass. This will allow clubs to read data provided by health authorities quickly and efficiently while simultaneously confirming fan identity.
 
This technology will be provided free of charge to all clubs who apply to use the Socios Pass initiative. Furthermore, no fan health data or information relating to immunity status will be held by Socios.com. Instead it will be retrieved and read by an independent blockchain only when users open their Socios Pass to be scanned.
 
In addition to QR code scanning, Socios Pass holders will be able to use their Socios.com debit card to provide proof of immunity and ID information via an NFC scan.
 
Socios Pass also has potential for use as a pre-ticketing filter, where a valid QR code would have to be scanned online proving ID and immunity prior to purchasing tickets for matches, therefore reducing the chances of fans being turned away at the gates.
 
Chiliz, which is headquartered in Malta, is making plans to pilot Socios Pass to help the local community to provide a boost to SMEs and aid the recovery from the impact caused by Covid-19.
 
“We recently polled football fans from our partner clubs on Socios.com asking them if they would accept identity and health status checks if it meant that they could return to stadiums,” said Alexandre Dreyfus, CEO of Chiliz. “Around 74% of respondents voted in favour of such measures. This highlighted what we already knew – football and sport in general is hugely important in people’s lives. That’s why we want to use our blockchain expertise so that fans can enjoy live sport from the stadiums again and clubs can recover from the impact of Covid-19.
 
“Should they need it, Socios.com Pass will provide sports teams with a low integration, GDPR compliant software only solution offering free KYC validation for fan identity and health status checks and allowing for the safe transition of fans back into stadiums.”
 
Chiliz is a digital currency for sports and entertainment platforms. It fuels the scalable, tokenised voting platform, Socios.com, where fans can buy, trade and execute voting rights in their favourite sports teams. The Chiliz project has raised $66m from some cryptocurrency exchanges and crypto funds in Asia, including Binance, OK Blockchain Capital and Ceyuan Ventures. Chiliz is owned by Malta-based Mediarex Group, a sports and entertainment organisation, which was founded in 2012.