Government have made the Wright call for now in decision to reward rugby fans at Murrayfield
PETER WRIGHT reckons rugby is being rewarded for the behaviour of its fans and clubs.
But he also believes Celtic defender Boli Bolingoli and the Aberdeen Eight left the Scottish government with little option but to snub the round ball game.
Edinburgh will take on Glasgow at Murrayfield tomorrow night in front of a limited number of fans. However, Celtic’s hopes of entertaining Motherwell the following day in front of 1000 supporters has been scuppered by Holyrood.
Former Scotland star Wright said: “On the surface it seems unfair the government are allowing 700 fans into Murrayfield but denying the same right to supporters at
Celtic Park. However, after the Covid-19 breaches at Celtic and Aberdeen the government clearly doesn’t trust the football authorities at this stage.
“The government had already warned football was on the verge of being closed down.
“Maybe it’s no bad thing they’ve put a pause on the return of fans because one more strike and the league could be stopped. Perhaps rugby is also being rewarded for the way it has handled the Covid-19 situation, albeit we only have two professional clubs in the country.
“It sounds like an element of snobbery but maybe they also feel a rugby support is easier to police at matches.
“Rugby fans are a bit less animated than football followers where tribalism forms the basis of the support. The authorities may feel there’s less scope for misbehaviour around the new protocols.
“We aren’t allowed the volume up on televisions in the pub, for example, and music is also forbidden. Football fans like to sing at games too which is
currently frowned upon under the guidelines. Rugby fans don’t sing – well not at matches anyway.
“Listen, if I was a football fan I’d be upset. We can sell alcohol in rugby grounds, for example, which still isn’t allowed at football, rightly or wrongly.
“Rugby doesn’t have alcoholrelated trouble before or after games and maybe the sport is also being rewarded by the government for that level of good behaviour. Football might have to jump through a few more hoops before the fans are allowed in again.”
Ticket sales for the derby will be strictly monitored by SRU chiefs, with priority given to those who live closest to the stadium to cut down on unnecessary travel. Wright said: “The government clearly believes the case put forward by the SRU is pretty strong.
“There’s a lot more space around Murrayfield for parking, for example. Maybe that was also a factor in the decision.”