Celtic urge Holyrood to set date for fans’ return

CELTIC chief executive Peter Lawwell has warned Holyrood that Scottish football can’t afford to be left behind after Boris Johnson promised English fans they could be back in stadia by October.

No sooner had the Prime Minister made his pledge than the Scottish Government warned there was no ‘imminent prospect’ of the same happening here — and refused to set even an ‘indicative date’ for paying punters to be allowed back into grounds.

Last night that stance came under attack from the country’s wealthiest and most influential club, with Lawwell talking up the idea of a phased return of supporters within weeks.

A statement on Celtic’s official website read: ‘Celtic have expressed the hope that Scottish football will not be left behind as grounds re-open to supporters around Europe. Following the indication of “pilot” games with spectators in the rest of the UK from next month, Celtic believe the same approach can be safely adopted in Scotland.’

Lawwell said: ‘It is acknowledged that Scottish football has been exemplary in implementing all the safeguards required of it, first to get back into training and, from August 1, to playing competitive SPFL matches.

‘We are convinced this should now be accompanied by a phased return of

spectators which would be good, not only for the game of football but also for public health and morale in Scotland more generally.

‘Scottish clubs are much more dependent on matchday revenues than other, larger leagues.

‘That factor should be taken account of, so long as the public health obligations are met, to which we are entirely committed.

‘We also have an obligation to our own supporters to make the case for them to be allowed to watch live football, particularly when they can see the steady progress towards this in other European leagues.’

Celtic have been at the forefront of discussions over ‘pilot games’ being played in front of perhaps just 1,000 fans.

Lawwell said: ‘As a club, we have put enormous thought and effort into making Celtic Park fully compliant with all public health-related requirements while allowing our supporters to return to watching football.

‘Alongside other sporting bodies, Celtic will continue to engage in constructive dialogue with the Scottish Government and look forward to early progress.’

But a Scottish Government spokesperson confirmed there is currently no plan to follow what will happen in England.

‘The situation with the virus remains fragile which means that, in order to protect public health, there is not an imminent prospect of supporters being allowed back into stadiums. But we will continue to review this situation in coming months.

‘The Scottish Government is working in partnership with the football authorities, as well as other live event organisers, to ensure the necessary public health measures are in place to open up grounds to a limited numbers of supporters once it is safe to do so.’

Yesterday the Prime Minister confirmed his intention to allow fans back into stadiums for the start of October, subject to successful testing events in coming weeks.

It means fans south of the border will be allowed into top-flight grounds as early as the fourth weekend of the season, with September 12 pencilled in as the kick-off date for the next campaign.

Boris Johnson said: ‘From August 1, we will restart indoor performance to a live audience, subject to the success of pilots, and we will also pilot larger gatherings in venues like sports stadia, with a view to a wider reopening in the autumn. From October, we intend to bring back audiences in stadia. Again, these changes must be done in a Covid-secure way, subject to the successful outcome of pilots.’