Robertson: New post-match rules are a right shower

JOHN ROBERTSON has accused the SFA and Scottish Government of treating footballers like “cattle” by banning the use of showers after matches.

The Caley Thistle manager is furious at rules, agreed by the football authorities and government health advisors, which he reckons could put players’ health at risk in the worst cases.

The diktat – outlined to Championship, League One and Two clubs in a joint SFA, Government and SportScotland letter on Friday – orders players to leave the stadium wearing wet match gear before going home by bus or car.

Inverness regularly make 300-500 mile round trips to Palmerston in Dumfries and Cappielow in Greenock.

Former Hearts striker Robbo, back at Tynecastle on League Cup duty tonight, reckons it is ludicrous to deny professional athletes showers when gym users across the country can take one.

He said: “We’ve been trying to make our stadiums as Covid-proofed as possible but there’s unanswered questions.

“We played here against Elgin and like most matches across the country it just battered down non-stop from 9am right through the match.

“Our players were soaked and Elgin had seven lads travel back to Glasgow. I don’t understand the science. You can go to the gym, work-out and have a shower, yet players seem to be getting treated like cattle.

“Players could be sitting on the bus for four or five hours, having done nothing more than towel ourselves dry. Surely that brings on colds, flu and illness?”