Celtic & Coronavirus and competitions!

Yep. If, as is likely, it only applies to domestic players, then it increases their reliance on overseas players unfortunately

 

What I don't really get is asking their domestic players to isolate for 14 days when the games are in Japan

 

It'll be because they're mixing with players who play abroad.

 

UK is ‘most immune country in the world’ as data shows 98% of Brits have ‘some form’ of resistance to Omicron variant

 

Scottish football’s plan to bring back fans has been left hanging in the balance after the Scottish Government stopped short of giving it the green light over the weekend.

Record Sport first revealed on Wednesday that the game’s Joint Response Group had informed clubs to prepare for a return to full capacity in time for the re-start of the top flight on January 17.

And the move was subsequently confirmed by the SPFL who insisted that scientific data proves the lives of supporters won’t be put at risk by bringing back full capacity crowds, despite the soaring Omicron infections rate.

But we understand league chiefs gave now been informed that the First Minister is still to make a final decision on whether or not the national game should be allowed to throw the gates open.

And now cash strapped clubs face an anxious wait over the next 48 hours before discovering if Holyrood will be prepared to rubber-stamp the return of supporters - with Nicola Sturgeon expected to provide a further update on current emergency restrictions to parliament on Tuesday.

That’s less than one week before the Premiership campaign begins again when Celtic take on Hibs at Parkhead - with a further five games to follow 24 hours later.

This round of fixtures was originally scheduled to take place before the New Year but had to be hurriedly rearranged following the government’s decision to limit crowds to a maximum of 500 - a hard-line edict which led to the winter break being brought forward by a fortnight.

The Boxing Day fixture list did go ahead effectively behind closed doors and frustration then grew over the festive period as English football was allowed to continue in front of sell-out crowds.

Some Scottish clubs have even explored the possibility of moving games south of the border if the fan ban is not lifted any time soon.

But the SFA and SPFL believe there is no reason that the Scottish restrictions will not be lifted in line with the original timescale of midnight on January 16.

 

So auld Keith retracting his “full steam ahead sorry”

 

Scum

 

* are doing their best to ruin and bankrupt scottish football
No concern whatsoever over clubs losing fortunes yet will do whatever they can to stop hospitality going under
If only there was a legitimate political party to push the snp at election time

 

Don't understand how you's are banned from going yet we can still go down here

 

Because we have a FM who has total disdain and repulsion for football and it’s fans…and….needs to take revenge on fans for forcing the repeal of the OBFA….oh and you can be sure she’ll go out her way to make sure her chummies will be able to return to Murrayfield for the 6 nations

 

They’re just trying to create a pantomime to make it look like there was reason for the initial shutdown.

No reason why football can’t be played with fans.

 

Will be nothing short of pathetic if we’re not allowed back in stadiums.

 

I'm sure Jason Leitch is a sensible guy. Which is why he's smart enough to put his hands up and say the new restrictions on hospitality and sporting events were the wrong thing to do.

Sturgeon will be digging her heels in of course. She never admits to doing anything wrong! It's classic Nicola!

She described the omicron variant like a "Tsunami", smashing into hospitality, and destroying everything in its path!

Without the economic levers at her disposal. Nicola's decision has cost jobs!

With thousands of cancellations of Christmas party's and restaurants laying off staff in what is meant to be the busiest time of the year.

Millions of fans south of the border enjoying football to capacity. Nicola says we're not allowed to enjoy the beautiful game, up here in Scotland. Because she says so!

I believe she's manufacturing a pantomime, to deflect from her economy destroying decision to play politics and project fear! Locking Scottish football fans out.

Only 1 poor person in Scotland has died of omicron. That's not a pandemic. It's not a pandemic anymore!

https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/news/...eeks-51-52-20-december-2021-to-2-january-2022 44 deaths that mention covid 19. But no mention if covid 19 was the main protagonist in their deaths in December 20-2 January. I would love to know the statistics. I think the government are * the numbers. RIP to everyone that has died.


I think its the Nicola Sturgeon Panto season! And the SNP Hate Football Fans!

 

They have already caused enough damage in the hospitality sector by jumping the gun. Get the fans back and let us get back on with our lives. I really liked Sturgeon prior to all this. Even during the first lockdown I thought she done pretty well. A few things I questioned, but all in all, I thought she done ok. However, my mood towards her has totally changed, to the point now where I would say I dislike her. The 500 spectators allowed at football was the straw that broke the camels back. Canny go Leitch one bit, his voice would cut right through you as well.

 

I can go to Braehead and be among the crowds there but I can't go and watch my team. Sturgeon and the Airdrie dentist are taking the * now.

 

I feel the exact same mate.

If I'm not back in Celtic Park on Monday I'm never voting for the SNP again.

 

Full crowds expected at football games from next week

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is set to announce that mass crowds can attend sporting events from the start of next week, in time for the return of Premiership football.




Clyde 1 understands the First Minister will approve the re-introduction of capacity stadiums when she addresses parliament this afternoon after three weeks of limiting crowds to 500 people.

It means all Premiership fixtures can expect masses of supporters again, starting with Celtic vs Hibernian on Monday 17th January.



Due to the spread of Omicron and rising COVID cases across the country, all large events were limited to 500 fans from Boxing Day last year.

This prompted top-flight teams to bring forward their winter break to the 27th of December, having originally been scheduled to begin on January 4th, in the hope that fans could attend when the break ends.


The lower leagues have continued playing throughout with attendances limited to 500 but they too can now sell out to full capacity.


SPFL Chief Executive Neil Doncaster had previously said that the reduced crowds were a “hammer blow” but the governing bodies, clubs and fans alike will be satisfied with the news and justified in their decision to bring the winter break forward.













NICOLA STURGEON is set to confirm later today that full crowds can return to stadiums across Scotland.

The Scottish Government took the decision three weeks ago to limit attendances at outdoor events to 500 for “up to three weeks”, from Boxing Day until January 17, in a bid to slow the transmission of the Omicron variant of coronavirus.

The move effectively placed the country’s top-flight football and rugby behind closed doors and prompted the Scottish Professional Football League to bring forward the cinch Premiership’s winter break to coincide with the crowd caps.


As a result there were fears that the second Celtic vs Rangers clash of the season would be played in front of just 500 fans.

But the powderkeg clash now looks set for a capacity crowd inside Celtic Park on February 2.

The Glasgow derby - initially due to be played on January 2 - was pushed back to Wednesday, February 2 after the SPFL brought forward the winter break.

Governing body chiefs ruled the break should be moved to follow the Boxing Day fixtures after clubs appealed with Scottish Governemnt curbs limiting capacity to just 500 fans.

 

Sensible decision based on the data. It’s a shame that they were implemented, but I can understand the precautionary approach.

Should hopefully be full stadiums again from next week.