Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Scotland should lead to get game
FOOTBALL is set to resume behind closed doors in Germany.
And FC Ingolstadt coach Mark Fotheringham hopes it paves the way for Scotland to follow suit.
Former Dundee, Celtic, Norwich City and Fulham star Fotheringham travelled to Germany from his family home in Tayside this week to prepare Ingolstadt’s players for the resumption of their season.
Amid strict coronavirus testing and social distancing measures, the top two German leagues plan to restart matches in empty stadiums on May 9.
Ingolstadt, who are chasing promotion from the third tier, are preparing to return to action, too.
And Fotheringham, whose playing days also included a short stint with Dundee United, is praying Germany’s closed-doors experiment is successful.
He said: “I know the football world will be watching Germany over the next few weeks to see how things pan out here.
“Hopefully it goes smoothly, because I think everybody wants to see football being played again.
“The advantage we’ve got in Germany is that the authorities here are handling things really well.
“They are testing at high volumes and the medical facilities are fantastic.
“The hospitals have all the beds and respiratory equipment they need because the Germans are very meticulous, they plan ahead for everything.
“At the end of the day, as coaches, we’ve got a responsibility to our players.
“But if everybody is getting tested and everybody has been given a clean bill of health, I don’t see any reason why we can’t play games behind closed doors.
“All of our players and staff have been tested and all of them have come back negative. The same thing has been happening at the other clubs, too.
“Hopefully, if we get back up and running in the next few weeks, the government in Scotland will take a look at it and see that it’s possible to do it safely.
“That would at l east let the Scottish clubs and authorities get planning for starting next season – behind closed doors, if necessary – the same way the Germans have.”
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon sparked panic among clubs after suggesting football is unlikely to return behind closed doors in this country, citing a fear of fans congregating to watch games away from stadiums.
In Germany, football’s return is being viewed completely differently.
“It will be good for people to watch the games on TV,” said Fotheringham.
“The way the Germans work, if the government are telling them they’re in lockdown in their houses and they’re only getting out for an hour a day for exercise with their family members, that’s exactly what they do.
“It’s the way they are as people – they don’t mess about here.
“I can’t see anybody