PLANS FOR FANS REJECTED

Scottish Government turn down pilot event proposal

PROPOSALS to allow Celtic’s home match against Motherwell on Sunday to go ahead with fans in the stadium have been rejected by the Scottish Government.

Celtic manager Neil confirmed last week the Parkhead club “collaborating” with

Lennon that were the government on plans for the game to be used as a pilot for a return to live spectator sport.

Parkhead chiefs were hoping to welcome as many as 1400 supporters through the turnstiles for the Scottish Premiership fixture. But the Scottish Government said it needed “sufficient time for any test events to be informed by learning from other events”.

Around 700 rugby fans will be allowed into Murrayfield on Friday when Edinburgh host Glasgow Warriors in Guinness PRO14 action.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has already set out an “indicative date” of September 14 for the reopening of Scotland’s stadiums.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “A lot of work has gone on behind the scenes during these past months to create the protocols and testing regimes to allow top- level professional sport in Scotland to resume, without putting the public or others at unnecessary risk.

“We recognise there is disappointment that the proposal for a pilot on August 30 has not been approved but we are looking for suitable alternative dates for football pilots.

“We need to allow sufficient time for any test events to be informed by learning from other events – in particular the rugby match at Murrayfield on August 28.”

Meanwhile, the Joint Response Group has announced there have been no positive results for coronavirus following the latest round of testing.

A spokesperson said: “We note the decision and are seeking urgent clarification from the Scottish Government. We can only assume that the Scottish Government regard a single pilot event as appropriate for both rugby and football, ahead of the return of fans from 14 September, and look forward to that clarification as soon as possible.”

A total of 1345 players from across the Premiership as well as Hearts and Glasgow City were tested between August 17 and 23, with all results returning negative for Covid- 19.