QUEENS APOLOGISE OVER GALLOWAY ROW

QUEEN of the South could face SFA disciplinary action after former MP George Galloway was allowed to attend their match with Dundee as an official guest of the club while supporters remain locked out due to Covid-19. The Dumfries outfit last night issued an apology to frustrated fans after they questioned why the politician and former BigBrother star was at Saturday’s 3-1 Championship defeat to the Dark Blues with his family. Dundee-born Galloway sparked the row by posting on social media from the match at Palmerston Park and tagging in Dens Park midfielder Charlie Adam. The game had been earmarked as the first that Doonhamers fans could attend since March but with the country

entering Tier 4 coronavirus restrictions on Boxing Day due to the ongoing pandemic, it meant that supporters had to stay away. Galloway later explained on Twitter that he was at the match because he ‘is about to be a sponsor’ of the club. He added that his family live in Dumfries and Galloway and own five Queen of the South season tickets and that his post was ‘spreading the word about the club to millions of people’. Queens last night confirmed Galloway was at Palmerston but stressed that all of the relevant coronavirus protocols were followed. However, Sportsmail understands the matter will now be looked at by the SFA’s compliance officer Clare whyte. A Queen of the South statement read: ‘we can confirm that George Galloway did attend our game against Dundee at Palmerston yesterday. ‘He was socially distant within an area of the ground where he formed a bubble with his family. All Covid protocols were followed at all times. ‘we would like to apologise to our supporters who have been upset by his attendance at the match.’ Colin Smyth, the Labour MSP for South Scotland, had called on Queens to explain why Galloway was ‘buying his way into Palmerston’. Smyth branded the club’s subsequent apology ‘half-hearted’ on Twitter and called on the Palmerston board to publicly address the matter. Last night, Queen of the South’s supporter liaison officer confirmed that fans had been in discussion with the board but insisted that the club did not want what was said to be made public. A post on social media by the liaison officer said: ‘A few supporters have asked us for an explanation as to why there was an official guest at the game. ‘we have been in touch with the board and although we have received a response, they would prefer we did not quote them. ‘we are equally (as) disappointed as the majority of you. Very frustrating all round.’