Anger over fans’ snub at football

THE Scottish Government last night came under fire for denying football fans the same chance given to rugby supporters to test a return to live games. A request from the SPFL to allow 700 fans into Parkhead for Sunday’s Premiership clash between Celtic and Motherwell has been turned down. The decision comes after the Scottish Rugby Union were granted permission to admit the same number into Murrayfield for tomorrow night’s Pro14 game between Edinburgh and Glasgow Warriors. Last night the SFA and SPFL Joint Response Group (JRG) were seeking ‘urgent clarification’ over the decision after a Zoom

meeting between the JRG and Joe FITZPATRICK, Minister for Public Health, Sport and Wellbeing, was scrapped at short notice. A JRG 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 September 14, and look forward to that clarification as soon as possible.’ Hampden sources insist they still have no idea why permission was refused for Sunday’s pilot event at Celtic Park — while the SRU were given the all-clear. Celtic and Scottish rugby’s governing body employed the same external consultants to recommend appropriate safety measures for both Parkhead and Murrayfield, working together to persuade public health officials that fans could return safely to grounds. A Scottish government statement said they were seeking alternative dates for football. it read: ‘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.’ in a relaxation of the rules, nicola Sturgeon recently announced plans to allow the return of supporters to sports grounds in restricted numbers from September 14. And, despite the first Minister showing Scottish football a yellow card after eight Aberdeen players and Celtic’s Boli Bolingoli breached Covid-19 health guidelines, just three Scottish players have tested positive. last night, a Celtic source expressed ‘bewilderment’ with the decision, pointing out that the club had returned no positive results at all despite conducting over 1,000 tests since protocols began. Responding to the news, Motherwell manager Stephen Robinson said: ‘i don’t know the ins and outs of it, so it would be wrong of me to say too much on it. ‘We’re just desperate to have fans back. if the government have got a reason for doing it, i’m sure it’s a genuine reason. ‘they have supported everything to do with football so far and, if there is a reason for not doing it, then they must have a genuine belief that this is not right yet. ‘But the sooner we can do it, the better.’ Despite Celtic facing frustration in their quest to get fans back this weekend, Ross County have confirmed they are stepping up plans to open up their stands. in a statement, the Dingwall outfit said: ‘Ross County can confirm that following the advice and guidance from the Scottish government and football authorities, we have now started to undertake the review and planning for the return of fans to the global energy Stadium. ‘the Scottish government had already provided an outlined date in mid-September for test events with crowds in Scotland. ‘We can confirm that we, Ross County, have put ourselves forward as a test venue. ‘there is no doubt that given our club’s ability to react to the pandemic in the beginning and diligent and extensive work carried out by our operational team, that we feel we have a group of staff with the capability to deliver a return for fans to our stadium in a safe and secure environment.’ While Scotland treads carefully on the issue of welcoming fans back into grounds, Brighton will host the first match with supporters in nearly six months this weekend after the UK government pressed ahead with plans to pilot test events in sport. the Seagulls will host fans at a pre-season friendly against Chelsea on Sunday while spectators will also be allowed to watch a Women’s Super league game between West Ham and Arsenal on September 12.