GAME OF RISK
Virus halts sport but in Scotland it’s STILL green for go
SCOTTISH football has been given the green light to carry on as normal this weekend — including Sunday’s Old Firm clash at Ibrox — despite much of the rest of the sporting world being shut down in an attempt to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
On an unprecedented day of cancellations, football league programmes in Spain, Portugal, Holland and the United States were suspended, alongside postponements in rugby, tennis, golf, basketball and athletics.
Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon yesterday recommended that gatherings of more than 500 people should be cancelled from next week, leaving Scottish football authorities to consider their next step. That means tomorrow and Sunday’s football fixtures in the Premiership, Championship,
Leagues One and Two will be played as normal, including the rangers-Celtic showdown in front of an anticipated 50,000 crowd.
The Scotland rugby team will, by then, have also played in front of over 70,000 at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff and the massed ranks at Cheltenham will have assembled unheeded.
Such a scenario flies in the face of everything that happened yesterday, when it
was almost difficult to keep up with developments.
But, as our leaders steadfastly maintain their stance that they will ‘follow the science’, football in Scotland will continue. Only on Monday, according to the First Minister, will restrictions come into force.
It is difficult to see how the game can continue while La Liga, Serie A and others are calling a halt.
Last night, a joint statement emerged from the SFA/SPFL Joint Response Group.
‘Following the First Minister’s comments regarding plans to restrict public gatherings from next week, we will enter discussions with the Scottish Government to understand the full detail of their plans and the implications for clubs and national sides,’ it read.
‘For the avoidance of doubt, all SPFL games scheduled for this weekend will be proceeding as planned.
‘Of course, we ask all fans, players and officials to heed the clear instructions about selfisolation for seven days if they exhibit the symptoms of coronavirus, and the vital necessity of good handwashing hygiene.
‘The Scottish FA has also been invited by UEFA to join a video conference call on Tuesday, at which its executive committee will discuss European football’s response to the outbreak with all 55 national associations and other key stakeholders.
‘This will enable the Scottish FA to provide clear and unequivocal advice ahead of the UEFA Nations League Play-Off semi-final against Israel on March 26 at Hampden Park.
‘Once we are in possession of a definitive action plan from the Scottish Government, we will communicate contingency plans as quickly and as accurately as possible to all our stakeholders.
‘The same applies to other Scottish FA fixtures likely to be affected by the implications of the “delay” period advice, such as the remaining William Hill Scottish Cup fixtures, and qualifiers involving the Scotland Women’s National Team and men’s Under-21s.’
Tuesday’s conference call has all the makings of being a gamechanger. There is a growing realisation that football’s powerbrokers will stop fighting a battle they cannot win and bow to the inevitable.
UEFA are set to give serious consideration to postponing Euro 2020 until next year — then propose to use the period to play any outstanding European domestic league games— or shorten the tournament by scrapping play-off qualification in a move which could spell disaster for Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland and, who are all involved.
Sportsmail understands clubs are already on a collision course with international bosses over the availability of their top players for this month’s proposed encounters.
Club medics are extremely reluctant to let their players — multi-million-pound assets — travel overseas given the risks due to the coronavirus.
Sportsmail knows of at least two clubs who have banned travel on all commercial flights. Many players will be required to take commercial travel to report for international duty later this month.
Top-flight doctors held crisis talks yesterday to discuss the growing impact of Covid-19. Proposals to shut off specific areas of stadiums and training grounds were discussed as well as formulating clear guidelines in the event of games being played behind closed doors or suspended.
But the protection of their players during the forthcoming international break was also high on the agenda.
The matter, at least for European players, could be settled at Tuesday’s emergency UEFA meeting where the prospect of cancelling internationals will be discussed.
What happens on the domestic front is also up for discussion next week. The SPFL and the SFA are working together to monitor developments and advise clubs.
Sportsmail reported previously that a ‘doomsday scenario’ exists to end the SPFL season prematurely, declare Celtic champions and settle relegation based on existing league positions.
Playing the remaining games of the campaign behind closed doors is another option but, while it would complete the season, it is far from popular.
Raith Rovers chairman Bill Clark says many clubs face financial disaster should games be played behind closed doors. And the SPFL has already said that there is no money to bail out its members should the rest of the season be played in empty stadia.
Clark, whose side lead League One by one point from Falkirk, said: ‘For us, the biggest problem is going to be the financial hit. If we move to closed doors that is a disaster for us, and even worse if they decide to guillotine the leagues.
‘We have no cash reserves, the thing we hope for first of all is that the SPFL might advance payments which we’d normally get at the end of the season.
‘If they brought even part of that forward it would help all the clubs in Leagues One and Two.
‘We’re also hoping HMRC might allow us to delay paying VAT and things like that.
‘These are massive bills we have to pay quarterly and we could be in a bit of trouble.
‘If games are postponed and they’re played later, then fair enough. But given where we are at the top of the league just now, and with fierce competition at the top, my worry is that if they decide to bring down the guillotine on the leagues, what are going to do with League One?
‘The others leagues are all pretty straightforward because you have clear leaders.’
Stranraer chairman Iain Dougan says League One’s bottom club would have been in ‘serious trouble’ were it not for the windfall received
from a Scottish Cup clash at Ibrox in January.
But even that has been frittered away after a series of postponements because of bad weather.
‘When you’ve not had a game for six weeks and you have your wage bill and the upkeep of the club, you’re not long in going through that windfall,’ he said.
‘There was money that had been earmarked to fit new seats in the stand, that kind of stuff, but you’re digging into it now with the cancellations and this would just exaggerate it.
‘Other clubs won’t be in the position we are in with regards to that windfall.
‘Under normal circumstances it would be disastrous.’
England’s Premier League have convened an emergency club meeting for this morning regarding future fixtures after Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta tested positive for coronavirus.
As things stood last night, the EFL will continue as normal until the government alters its advice on mass gatherings, which may not be for several more weeks.
English clubs’ European campaigns have been affected however, with Manchester City’s last-16 Champions League knockout tie against Real Madrid next week postponed as the Spanish club are in quarantine.
That is the second postponement City have experienced in as many days after their Premier League game with Arsenal was called off in the early hours of Wednesday morning, and the club are understood to be unhappy with the guidance they have received from the league headquarters.
Brendan Rodgers confirmed three of his Leicester City players are self-isolating after showing symptoms.
‘We’ve had a few players that have shown symptoms and signs (of coronavirus),’ said Rodgers. ‘We’ve followed procedures and (as a precaution) they have been kept away from the squad.’
Watford, meanwhile, have told players and staff not to report to training, with tomorrow’s Premier League game against Leicester now in doubt.