Fan zone may be a risk too far in Covid battle

Jason Leitch’s concerns about a possible future Covid case surge relating directly to the planned Euro 2020 fan zone in Glasgow indicate that pre-emptive action is needed.

If, as the national clinical director said, this would result in the country shifting “into backwards gear”, the plug must be pulled on it. Rising cases in the north-east have sparked worries of a third wave, and there is nothing stopping Grampian residents travelling to the fan zone in the Central Belt, potentially spreading coronavirus among the 6,000 people that could be in attendance.

The government has gone to great lengths to make special allowances for football during the pandemic. A blind eye has been turned to unofficial mass gatherings of fans in the recent past, and we have seen the direct effect of these, with infection numbers increasing and localised lockdown restrictions.

Bill Shankly’s quote that “some people believe football is a matter of life and death” feels chillingly apt – apparently some really do consider the sport more important than the lives of others. Even if unpopular, a swift decision should be made to cancel the fan zone plans.