Smith wants games forfeited

FORMER SFA chief executive Gordon Smith last night insisted clubs whose players continue to flout Covid-19 rules should have to forfeit matches. Aberdeen’s trip to St Johnstone last Saturday was postponed after eight players went on an night out and two tested positive for coronavirus. They later issued a public apology. Then Celtic left-back Boli Bolingoli broke the rules by making a secret trip to Spain, deemed a high-risk country after a spike in cases. Bolingoli did not tell the Parkhead club about his visit and came off the bench in Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Kilmarnock when he should have been in quarantine. That prompted First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to issue Scottish football with a yellow card and request that Aberdeen and Celtic’s subsequent fixtures be postponed. Celtic’s matches with St Mirren last night and Aberdeen on Saturday were called off, along with the Dons’ home match against Hamilton last night. The First Minister also issued a final warning that any more rule breaches will see the game go back into shutdown.

Sportsmail revealed yesterday that the SPFL are in talks to crack down on individual players who breach the regulations. But former SFA boss Smith believes a no-nonsense approach needs to be put in place where clubs are hammered for any repeat of the Bolingoli and Aberdeen Eight incidents. ‘These players have put the Scottish game in jeopardy,’ he told BBC Scotland. ‘I think it is (heading for another lockdown) unless they realise the problems they are bringing. ‘But what the SPFL should be saying to the clubs now is, in future if games have to be postponed because of players’ actions in relation to Covid-19, the points should be given to the opposition.’