Covid trio return to training
RANGERS have allowed Bongani Zungu, Nathan Patterson and Calvin Bassey to return to Auchenhowie following their Covid regulation breaches earlier this month.
The three first team players, alongside Academy kids Brian Kinnear and Dapo Mebude, were subject of an internal investigation after attending a house party in Glasgow. Rangers have sanctioned those involved in the rule breaks and the Scottish Football Association could also hand down their own punishments after previously suspending Ibrox pair George Edmundson and Jordan Jones for seven matches.
Steven Gerrard and Ross Wilson, the sporting director, issued a joint statement on the matter, which read: “Over the course of the last week, we have both ensured that all our players understand our expectations when you are part of this great club.
“The players involved have been left in no uncertain terms as to the standards that everyone here is expected to adhere to.”
SCOTTISH Professional Football League chief executive Neil Doncaster has welcomed the decision to approve the use of concussion substitutes.
Following a vote by all 42 clubs and in consultation with the Scottish Football Association, the rule change will come into force from March 6 on a trial basis and will apply for the remainder of the current season.
The rule change comes following an announcement by the International Football Association Board (IFAB) in December 2020 that competition organisers could trial the system between January and August 2021.
The decision also comes in the wake of news that former Scotland defender Gordon McQueen has been diagnosed with vascular dementia.
Doncaster said: “The safety and wellbeing of players is clearly of the utmost importance to everyone involved with running football.
“The Scottish FA refereeing department has already started briefing our clubs on the details of the rule change, with that process continuing in advance of the change coming into force on March 6.”
Each team will be permitted a maximum of two concussion substitutes in a match.
A concussion substitution may be made regardless of the number of substitutes already used.
When a head injury is sustained or suspected, the team may either use one of their existing substitutes, if the maximum permitted number have not been used, or make an additional concussion substitute. When a concussion substitute is used, the opposing team has the option to use an additional substitute for any reason.