MAKING A DRAMA OUT OF A CRISIS
Good luck Neil if you think this solution to ongoing problem brings peace in our time
The arguments will most probably only be starting in Glasgow’s great divide now over this decision
ANOTHER day, another crisis turned into a drama in Scottish football.
Late yesterday evening, after a day of emergency talks on Hampden’s sixth floor and boardroom’s all across the country, Neil Doncaster emerged clutching a piece of paper while declaring peace in our time after thrashing out a new-look fixture schedule for the top flight.
While it seems only right at this time of year to wish him good luck with that, the arguments will most probably only be starting.
They will doubtless prove to be particularly virulent when coming into contact with Glasgow’s great divide.
In this environment it matters not that 10 clubs from the top 12 all saw some benefit in fast-tracking the winter
KEITH JACKSON
BY shutdown and rushing it into place as soon as the last ball is kicked behind closed doors on Boxing Day.
The Premiership hope to use this gap as a circuit breaker even though there are huge concerns that they will be forced to play on behind closed doors when they return.
Fans are unlikely to be allowed back into their grounds in any significant numbers until mid-February at the earliest, after the new wave of Omicron infections has peaked.
It all seems like a glass-halffull approach to an ongoing situation which, if the recent history of this nightmarish pandemic tells us anything, is more likely to get worse than better in the short to medium term. But that’s neither here nor there where Glasgow’s noisy neighbours are concerned. In the blue corner, Rangers fans will be seeing spooks under their beds at the thought of what has just been done to their team’s title defence.
Even if Celtic Park remains a no-go zone for supporters from both sides when the derby goes ahead on February 2, this emergency fixture reshuffle could mean that the champions are without Nigerian trio Joe Aribo, Calvin Bassey and Leon Balogun for postponed away trips to both Pittodrie and Parkhead while they represent their country in the Africa Cup of Nations.
If the Super Eagles make it as far as the quarter-finals, which are scheduled for January 29 and 30, it’s highly unlikely that this trio will be
available to manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst when he leads his squad across the Clyde,
On the flip side Celtic have been struggling with a raft of hamstring injuries.
They could benefit with the likes of Kyogo Furuhashi, David Turnbull, Jota and James Forrest, all missing from last night’s squad against St Mirren, now given extra time to get back to full fitness ahead of a crucial table-topping showdown.
Ange Postecoglou’s side will re-start their campaign at home to Hibs on Monday January 17 with Rangers back in action the following night in the North East.
Record Sport understands the rescheduling was pushed through after Holyrood ignored pleas from the football authorities to reconsider the controversial decision to slash attendances over the festive period.
It’s also believed the government and its advisers refused to back down despite proposals to ask fans not to travel to matches on supporters buses or public transport – a move designed to limit the biggest risks of increased spread.
With no apparent appetite on behalf of the politicians to discuss ways of softening Nicola Sturgeon’s hardline rules, the Premiership clubs have taken their own action in the highly optimistic hope that supporters might be allowed back once the initial three week edict has passed.
It also came despite a warning from the SPFL chief executive that choosing to scrap games now could lead to fixture chaos later in the season, especially if infection rates remain high once the season re-starts, causing more games to be called off.
Doncaster said: “We have had intense and positive discussions with all cinch SPFL clubs over the past 24 hours, since the announcement by the Scottish Government of a three-week period of restrictions on fans attending matches.
“We have advised our clubs that any postponements increase the risk of further disruption to an already highly congested fixture calendar.
“There are mixed views amongst cinch Premiership clubs about what to do for the best. However, a majority favour the postponement of fixtures to give a chance for games scheduled to be played over the festive period to be played in front of fans, once the three-week period of restrictions comes to an end.
“The SPFL board has agreed to postpone the December 29 and New Year cinch Premiership fixture cards. cinch Championship, League 1 and League 2 clubs voted to continue playing through the Government restrictions and we look forward to their festive fixtures over the next fortnight.
“We would like to place on record our sincere thanks to
Sky Sports and Police Scotland for their flexibility in accommodating these changes and to all SPFL clubs for their constructive feedback as we work together to get
through the challenges.”