The Carabao Cup final, the second FA Cup semi-final and the FA Cup final will serve as Wembley pilot events for the government's 'Covid status certification' scheme.

The plan is to enable the safe return of mass gatherings and indoor events as lockdown restrictions ease in England, with officials preparing a series of trial events over the coming months as they look to find a way for fans to return to sporting venues.

The FA Cup semi-final between Leicester and Southampton at the national stadium on April 18 will see football fans return for the first time since December, with 4,000 fans able to attend.

In developing the scheme, officials will take into account three factors – whether an individual has received the vaccine, has recently tested negative for the virus, or has "natural immunity" having tested positive in the previous six months. The NHS is said to be currently working on ways of providing people with the means to demonstrate their Covid status through "digital and non-digital routes".

Prime minister Boris Johnson said: "We are doing everything we can to enable the reopening of our country so people can return to the events, travel and other things they love as safely as possible, and these reviews will play an important role in allowing this to happen."

Spurs are playing their first domestic final since 2015 when they take on City in the Carabao Cup final and the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters' Trust is unhappy there was no consultation prior the decision being made.

"We know Spurs fans will have many questions about the announcement," a statement read. "And we would like to provide answers. But we can't. Because none of the decision makers have consulted with or even spoken to supporter groups at either competing club, or to the national fan organisation, ahead of today's statement.

"This not only displays a complete disregard for the fans, it risks undermining the confidence needed in how the event is being conducted."