Appeal for amateur football restart date
A r e s t a r t d a t e f o r a mat e u r f o o t b a l l s h o u l d b e announced to "give hope" to players and clubs, Labour leader Richard Leonard has said.
Outdoor sports for those over the age of 18 are currently not allowed in areas facing restrictions in Level 2 or higher, according to t he S cottish government framework, but professional matches will still be allowed to go ahead.
The Labour leader claims the regulations will create a "two- tiered" footballing system.
Current levels mean that onl y a dul t s i n f i ve l o c a l authority areas - Highland, Moray, the Western Isles, Orkney and Shetland - are able to play sport outside.
Mr Leonard has previously called for the ban on amateur football to be scrapped but First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the restrictions were "absolutely necessary to suppress the virus in high prevalence areas".
Labour are now pushing
for a date to be announced for the return of the amateur ranks of the national game to "give hope" to players and teams.
Mr Leonard said: "Tens of thousands of footballers are living with what seems like an indefinite ban on the sport they love.
"This blanket ban on competitive amateur football is doing serious harm to the grassroots of our national game by stopping mass adult participation in the sport.
"Nicola Sturgeon must give hope to players and clubs at amateur level that they will soon be able to resume matches.”