SFA confirm vaccine plan ... as Covid-hit Sons forfeit cup tie
SFA chief executive Ian Maxwell last night urged Scotland’s clubs to grab the chance to double vaccinate players after the Premier Sports Cup was hit by more fixture chaos.
As Sportsmail first revealed this week, the governing body have teamed up with the Scottish Government to encourage clubs to host pop-up vaccination centres within their stadiums or car parks.
Dumbarton last night became the second club to forfeit their opening League Cup clash after a player tested positive for Covid-19. With the Sons unable to field a team because of close contacts and injuries, today’s game has been awarded to opponents St Mirren as a 3-0 victory.
Forfar have already been handed a 3-0 win over Ross County after football operations were suspended at the Highland club amid a coronavirus outbreak.
Scottish football’s Joint Response Group now fear more games will fall victim to the virus unless players, staff and fans are encouraged to have both doses of the vaccine as soon as possible.
The JRG have written to senior clubs informing them of the chance to work with local health boards to deliver injections quickly.
Almost three million Scots have already received both doses. With the vaccination programme now targeting under-30s amid soaring positive cases, however, football clubs have been asked to play their part and minimise the risk of disruption to the new campaign.
Maxwell said: ‘We have been engaged in dialogue with Scottish Government throughout the pandemic but in recent weeks, as the vaccination is rolled-out to younger members of society, we identified an opportunity to put the national game at the heart of the roll-out by encouraging younger people to get their vaccines using the players, who are role models in their communities, as advocates.
‘With the new season soon to get under way, the pop-up vaccine centres also enable clubs to align the vaccination of their players which, in turn, will help provide a greater degree of confidence and certainty ahead of the new season.
‘We would encourage clubs to take up this opportunity and urge everyone — especially those now eligible between 18 and 29 — to get vaccinated to make sure we can get back together, in football stadia and in everyday life.’
The SPFL last night confirmed the news of a positive test at Dumbarton. A league statement read: ‘Dumbarton informed the SPFL that a player had tested positive for Covid-19 and, as a result of close contacts and player injuries, they do not have sufficient players available to fulfil the fixture.
‘Consistent with previous announcements in respect of similar issues in the group stage of this competition, any team unable or unwilling to field a team in a Premier Sports Cup round one group-stage tie, will forfeit the match on the basis of a 3-0 defeat. St Mirren have been awarded a 3-0 win.’
Meanwhile, Aberdeen hope to have 8,200 supporters inside Pittodrie for their first two games of the season.
The city is in Scottish Government level one, meaning 1,000 fans are permitted. That figure would double if Scotland moves to Level 0 on July 19 but clubs can apply for increased attendances.
Stephen Glass’s men entertain BK Hacken in the Europa Conference League on July 22 and Dundee United in their Premiership opener nine days later.
If the Scottish Government sticks to its roadmap out of lockdown, there will be no restrictions on supporter numbers after August 9.
A statement read: ‘The club has worked to prepare this application so we are ready to welcome as many fans back to Pittodrie as soon as we get confirmation from the Scottish Government.’