Football is not being targeted, says senior Scottish medic

GLASGOW: Scotish football has to assume its responsibilities in observing the coronavirus protocol and is not being singled out for punishment, Professor Jason Leitch, Scotland’s national clinical director, told the BBC on Saturday.

Scotish football has been in the headlines for all the wrong reasons over the past two weeks.

Eight Aberdeen players went to a bar a fortnight ago and Celtic defender Boli Bolingoli did not selfisolate nor tell his club ater a trip to Spain and played in last Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Kilmarnock.

As a result a furious Scotland First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said Aberdeen and Celtic’s matches this week should not take place and added if there were any further breaches she might wield a red card and terminate the season.

Scotland Sports Minister Joe Fitzpatrick subsequently held a meeting with the Scotish FA and the Scotish Professional Football League.

As a result on Thursday Scotish football’s Joint Response Group (JRG) ordered a halt to training.

The return to training for clubs outside the Premiership has been put on hold until August 24 at the earliest.

“Football has been allowed to get back to work before other things,” Professor Leitch said.

“Offices are not back, call centres are not back, football was allowed to come back on the basis they would follow the guidance religiously and it appears that some people within football haven’t done that. So therefore there’s a price to pay in a pause to make sure the footballers understand that that’s the nature of what they are doing. I am not targeting football.

“I am trying to help elite sport come back safely.” Ian Maxwell, chief executive of the SFA, said he could understand if the Scotish Government went the whole way and closed the season down if there are further breaches of the strict protocols.

“Absolutely believe that to be the case,” Maxwell told the BBC.

“I don’t think we have a leg to stand on in terms of puting up an argument ater the things that have happened.

“That’s why it was so important we did instigate this pause to make sure everybody knows what their obligations are.”

Maxwell said the hiatus will allow them to absorb the next Scotish Government guidelines due next week.

“We are very aware we have stopped all football again,” he said.