All Scottish football suspended until 10 June as lockdown is extended
The suspension of all football in Scotland has been extended until 10 June after football authorities were advised that restrictions on public gatherings of more than two people due to the coronavirus pandemic are “unlikely to be lifted” for at least another 13 weeks.
The Scottish Football Association (SFA) and the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) made the decision after a coronavirus joint response board meeting yesterday morning, where members unanimously agreed to move back the potential resumption date, which had previously been set as 30 April.
With the death toll continuing to rise due to the outbreak of Covid-19 in Great Britain, the extension comes as little surprise and reinforces many observers’ notion that a ball won’t be kicked in Scotland until deep into the summer, at best.
The group said that the latest date takes into account the fact that group training for football teams cannot take place during these restrictions and that most clubs would need four-to-six weeks of physical preparation before playing competitive football.
The news comes hot on the
heels of a resolution from the SPFL to end the 2019-20 Premiership, Championship, League One and League Two campaigns early. All 42 SPFL member clubs will vote on the proposals, which would see an immediate end to all divisions except the Premiership using a points-per-game ratio to determine final standings. Although top-flight clubs are casting votes, a final call on the Premiership will not be made until it is deemed impossible to complete its remaining games.
In light of the medical advice revealed by the SFA, however, it is becoming increasingly difficult to envisage a timely conclusion to the current season.
A statement from the SFA/ SPFL coronavirus joint response group read: “The Scottish FA board met via videoconference this morning to discuss the implications of the most up-to-date government and medical advice on the governing body’s suspension on football. Based on this advice, it has unanimously agreed to extend the suspension at all levels of the game from professional to recreational until at least 10 June.
“The board had initially suspended football until further notice and with a stipulation of 30 April at the earliest, in order to give member clubs greater certainty on player welfare and wellbeing, as well as financial clarity. “Since the announcement on 19 March, the Joint Response Group has received daily updates from the Scottish FA’S Medical Consultant, Dr John Maclean, based on his discussions with medical colleagues in Scotland and the United Kingdom, as well as within Uefa and the World Health Organisation.
“The Scottish FA board has also given due consideration to a letter received by the Scottish
Government Minister for Public Health, Sport and Wellbeing, Joe Fitzpatrick, pictured, drawing attention to the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions) (Scotland) Regulations 2020, which banned public gatherings of more than two people.
“Mr Fitzpatrick stated these restrictions were unlikely to be lifted for at least 13 weeks and that NHS Scotland had been placed on an emergency footing until at least 10 June 2020. Mr Fitzpatrick indicated that no group training would be permitted before the legal restrictions are lifted and noted the medical advice that competitive matches could not take place for about six weeks after training and conditioning recommences.
“This was consistent with the advice of the Scottish FA’S Medical Consultant, as well as Uefa’s confirmation on a recent videoconference that its fixture calendar working group was now looking at dates beyond June 2020 for the resumption of its competitions across Europe.”