Compromise needed to get football back, says McGinn

Aberdeen forward Niall McGinn reckons Scottish football will have to compromise and agree to closed door games to get the game back up and running.

However, the Northern Ireland international insists it is imperative that the players’ safety comes first should they retake to the pitch.

As concerns grow that the coronavirus pandemic will mean that fans will not be able to return to stadia across the country for months to come, McGinn admits he is warming to the idea of playing in front of empty grounds if it meant next season kicking off on time.

McGinn, 32, said: “I’m not sure what the future holds in terms of getting back to playing football.

“I know talk has been made about playing behind closed doors and whilst it may not be ideal I think most now recognise it might be a necessary compromise to get football going again in this country.

“It will only happen though when it is safe to do so and that means no corners can be cut. The plans have to be very thorough.

“It could for example mean we have to get tested before and after games. When the safety measures are in place and the government give the go ahead, then hopefully we can get back playing again.”

McGinn played in a “closed doors” match for his country in a Euro 2012 qualifying defeat in Belgrade nine years ago after Serbia were punished for crowd trouble during a game against Italy.

He added: “I was involved in one closed doors game with Northern Ireland. It was away to Serbia in 2011.

“I did not play in the game in Belgrade, but remember there were around 200 Northern Ireland fans who had made the trip so were allowed in, plus about 100 friends and family from the Serbian team. It was still a very strange experience inside a 55,000 stadium.

“It would be even more strange playing in front of no fans at all, but it would allow us the chance to get back playing and I think everyone would welcome that.”

Niall McGinn is unsure what the future holds for football.