OLD FIRM HOUSE PARTY CARNAGE
Fears of Covid explosion as bar bosses beg to open up for big match
BAR bosses have urged Nicola Sturgeon to allow them to open for the Old Firm clash next weekend.
There are fears the closure of pubs across the Central Belt for the next 16 days could lead football fans to gather in friends’ houses next Saturday, risking another explosion of Covid-19 cases.
PUB bosses have begged Nicola Sturgeon to let them open for next weekend’s Old Firm match – or risk a Covid explosion linked to house parties for the big match.
Licensed venues across Scotland cannot serve booze indoors after 6pm today – and Central Belt bars will close entirely for 16 days under new lockdown rules.
But with the crunch Celtic vs Rangers league clash kicking off at 12.30pm on October 17, there are fears fans will gather in private homes, breaching the coronavirus rules.
Now pub owners have asked for a rethink to allow fans to watch the game in pubs, where industry leaders say corona rules can be strictly supervised.
Tony Cochrane, who runs pub and club venues in Scotland including Fat Sams and Duck Slattery’s in Dundee, Vienna’s in Paisley and the Club Tropicana chain of nightclubs in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen, said: “Everyone will go watch the match at their mate’s house with some beers.
“I would urge Nicola Sturgeon to let us open – even if just for the Old Firm game.
“The importance of it is almost like a religion to some people.
“In a venue there is sanitiser, people are kept in bubbles, there is no music or commentary and you can’t go to the toilet without wearing a mask.
“Instead, at a house, they could be crammed in with people who they don’t even know along a sofa, nobody wearing masks and everyone singing and cheering.
“I know someone in the younger generation who has been invited to three parties.”
One Old Firm fan, who didn’t want to be named, told the
Record how he intended to flout the rules and invite friends round for the big game.
He said: “This is the only time I see my pals and if they want to come by for a drink to watch the game, I’ll welcome them.”
Supporters from both sides of the Old Firm divide spoke of their sadness at being forced to watch the game at home.
Davy Blair, of the Bridgeton Chosen Few Rangers Supporters
Club, said: “I disagree with it and think the pubs should be open. It is the Old Firm, something everyone looks forward to, and is sometimes the only chance people have to get out of the house. It just won’t be the same watching it from the house alone.”
Other football fans appealed directly to the First Minister. Ross Campbell tweeted: “Old Firm house gatherings are going to be absolute carnage. House
party numbers will rise as you are now only able to drink in an uncontrolled environment.
“These restrictions will do absolutely nothing. And if others are then enforced, there will be an absolute riot.”
And last night, bosses at The Gallant Pioneer, a Rangers pub in Blackpool, said they have received dozens of messages from supporters north of the Border desperate to watch the derby clash since new restrictions were announced on hospitality yesterday.
Rangers and Celtic did not comment on house party fears.
On Wednesday, Sturgeon announced that in the five regions across central Scotland with the highest number of cases, licensed premises will have to shut for a 16-day period. Those outside the Central Belt can’t serve alcohol indoors but can do so outside until 10pm.
Superintendent Stevie Dolan said: “We will use enforcement as a last resort only where there is a clear breach of the legislation.”
A Scottish Government spokesman said: “We would encourage everyone to follow the necessary restrictions and guidance we have put in place to slow the spread of Covid-19.”