SPORT LEFT IN THE DARK
SCOTTISH sport was left grappling in the dark last night after First Minister Nicola Sturgeon failed to provide any clarity on the easing of lockdown restrictions — including the return of supporters. Panicked clubs at all levels are desperate to learn a timeline for a return of fans to stadia as soon as possible, while the suspension of football below the SPFL Championship is up for review on March 1 and fears are growing over whether the lower-league season will be completed. Scotland are also due to host the Czech Republic and Croatia at Hampden in the Euro 2020 finals in June, with a trip to Wembley to face England squeezed in
between. In rugby, Murrayfield is due to welcome at least one British and Irish Lions Test in June but the lack of fans could yet call that into question. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has authorised test events to get crowds of 10,000 back in to English sports grounds from May 17. But Scotland’s First Minister, announcing her road map out of lockdown yesterday, failed to throw a bone to clubs desperate to see the return of fan match-day revenue as soon as possible.
Non-contact outdoor group sports for 12 to 17-year-olds has been given the green light to restart in three weeks’ time. Last night, however, Scottish football’s Joint Response Group admitted they have no idea when the professional game will be offered a glimpse of normality. ‘The Joint Response Group notes the First Minister’s road map out of lockdown outlined at Holyrood today,’ said a JRG statement last night.
‘We await further clarification from ministers in the coming days on the implications for Scottish football at all levels, including leagues and clubs currently under the Scottish FA suspension and the wider grassroots game. ‘We will provide a more detailed update when ministers outline the road map for affected areas of Scottish football. ‘The JRG is committed to working with government to ensure the national game is primed to return within the “progressive easing” timeline announced today.’
A working group set up by League One and League Two clubs will hold a Zoom meeting with the Joint Response Group this evening to check on the progress of a plan to get the bottom two tiers back up and running on March 15. Clubs in both leagues have made a number of proposals to prevent the season being declared null and void, with no promotion or relegation. Those include paying £15,000 a month to test players, revamping travel protocols and shortening the season from 27 games to 18 games to get finished.
While the JRG showed goodwill towards the Scottish Government by suspending the lower leagues to help lower infection rates, however, evidence of that gesture being repaid remains scant.
While Scottish football is forced to tread a cautious path out of the crisis, the English game has been granted permission to host test events ahead of May 17.
Whitehall chiefs were yesterday discussing arrangements for those forthcoming pilots with hope of releasing a schedule within a few weeks. The forthcoming testing events project will be on a significantly larger scale than last year’s.
Up to 2,000 fans were allowed at a number of Premier League matches in December — but the government are planning for a larger attendance in the next round of testing fixtures. The success of the vaccination programme in addition to other technological and medical advances — for instance the widespread testing facilities — means there is greater scope to have larger crowds in stadiums. The Carabao Cup final between Manchester City and Tottenham on April 25 and the FA Cup final on May 15 have both been mooted as possible test events.