IT’S LIFE AND DEATH, BUT WE PLAY ON? IT’S LUDICROUS

SPAIN’S La Liga: suspended. Italy’s Serie A: suspended. Portugal’s Primeira Liga: suspended. USA’s MLS: suspended. Holland’s Eredivisie: suspended. Germany’s Bundesliga: behind closed doors. Meanwhile, in England and Scotland: carry on, chaps. This is ludicrous. It’s literally life and death, and yet we have tens of thousands of supporters gathering to watch a game of football. Last night, I was at Rangers’ match against Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa

League. There was a packed house at Ibrox, with plenty of away fans having travelled on the day Germany’s chancellor Angela Merkel said two thirds of their country could contract coronavirus. How that stadium was not empty is beyond me. Chelsea have already been told they cannot take fans to Munich for their Champions League clash with Bayern next week, but Leverkusen fans were fine to come to Glasgow? Work that one out. Nicola Sturgeon told us yesterday that the Scottish government are ready to cancel gatherings of 500 or more people from Monday. Why wait? This isn’t like starting a diet. These are measures to protect the population. The Old Firm derby is on Sunday. Imagine how many thousands will attend that and put themselves at risk. The authorities in England and Scotland need to wake up. People are dying because of this disease. I never played a match behind closed doors, but if that’s the best thing for our country, then do it. If the best thing is to suspend the Premier League, then do it. We all love football, but sport has to become secondary in times like this. When a high-profile player tests positive, maybe then the realisation will finally kick in.