BOSSESTURN BAN LEADERS
JIM GOODWIN and Brian Rice have called on the SPFL to ban players who breach Covid protocols.
St Mirren boss Goodwin and Hamilton counterpart Rice insist lengthy bans and financial penalties should be set in stone as clubs can’t police their staff around the clock.
Goodwin, who saw his side’s midweek clash with Celtic postponed after Boli Bolingoli’s actions, forced his squad to sit through First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s media briefing to drive home the message not to drag his club through the mud.
He said: “You could be looking at a four or fivegame suspension and an internal fine. As clubs we need to put a fine structure in place.
“I don’t think teams should forfeit games but there should be heavy punishments for any individuals who knowingly break the rules.
“I’ve stressed to my players that if they are caught out in any type of hospitality venue, restaurant, pub or nightclub and if something comes off the back of it then they’re in serious trouble and there would be consequences.
“If one of these venues gets closed down and track and trace brings it back to one of our players or staff then we’d deal with that internally.
“I don’t think any manager or player out there would have an argument if the SPFL hit them with a heavy, heavy suspension.”
The Buddies travel to face Hamilton tomorrow and Goodwin’s sentiments were echoed by Rice, who’s convinced the SPFL should have the power to hit any player breaching protocols by banning them from the game.
He said: “If people break the rules there have to be sanctions. I don’t think it is totally fair for clubs to bear the brunt of it.
“Some panel or group has to have the authority to give sanctions out to individuals whether it is fines or bans.
“The worst thing you can do to a player is ban him. The last thing they want is to stop training and playing football.
“My worry is if someone does do it now we’ll all be banned from playing.
“They aren’t risking their own club now, they are risking every player, every manager and other people’s jobs.
“People have to realise how serious this is. I would urge every player to be ultra cautious.”