CLUBS GO TO WAR WITH FM
COUNTDOWN TO THE BIG KICK-OFF
FROM BACK PAGE month to stage a trial run in a pre-season friendly.
SRU chiefs also aimed to have 1000 supporters into the relaunch of the Pro-14 on August 22 while Aberdeen announced plans to let as many as 7500 punters back into Pittodrie shortly after the season begins.
The FM appeared to torpedo those plans when, with National Clinical Director Professor Jason Leitch, she said Covid-19 could keep the gates shut beyond October.
Her comments were urgently discussed at a meeting of football’s Joint Response Group later yesterday afternoon. One Premiership chief executive said: “There is an undercurrent of fury as the government appears to be disregarding the social, cultural and economic importance of the game in this country. Their actions may have catastrophic consequences. “There’s a reluctance for people in the game to express this anger in public but many of us feel as if these consequences are not being taken into consideration.
“It is heightened when clubs in this country watch others all round Europe get back to playing games with crowds.
“We’re already miles behind England who are up and running behind closed doors and are in advanced discussions with the Department of Culture Media and Sport about re-opening the turnstiles. “By comparison the dismissive approach of the government in this country could be disastrous. Unless they change their position it could be catastrophic for the Scottish game.” At yesterday’s daily government briefing, Leitch cast doubt on plans to fast-track fans’ return. He said: “I had another conversation yesterday with the leadership of the SFA and the SPFL and I have suggested in media in the last two or three days, perhaps October.
“I would maybe pencil that into your calendar but I certainly wouldn’t write over it in pen.”
Sturgeon was even less enthusiastic about the chances of football fans getting out of lockdown.
She said: “Football with crowds has not been pencilled in for October. We haven’t taken that decision yet.
“Jason was simply trying to find a way of saying, ‘Don’t assume it will be October when we get crowds back’.
“So do not take from this that we have given football an October provisional date for crowds being back. That’s not the case.”
On Tuesday, Lawwell revealed Celtic are working on a plan to open the stadium to some supporters for a preseason friendly on July 25.
Aberdeen believe their ground could be open to the public within weeks of the new season starting.
A club statement said: “The situation in football is changing on an almost daily basis. With positive progress on the fight against Covid-19, there may now only be a few home games behind closed doors.
“We are now making preparations for matches at Pittodrie both behind closed doors and with a reduced capacity, initially allowing access for 7500 season-ticket holders, assuming one-metre social distancing.”
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