ABERDEEN Chairman Dave Cormack has hit out at The Scottish Government and the lack of progress allowing supporters back into stadiums. The Dons boss called out Nicola Sturgeon and Professor Jason Leitch in a series of tweets last night, pleading with the authorities to open dialogue with clubs as their survival is at stake.
Northern Ireland had supporters in the ground for their play-off defeat during the week yet only four games have had spectators in Scotland and Celtic are yet to have any back, along with Rangers. The fact that 300 supporters cannot socially distance in 50,000-60,000 stadiums is ludicrous when you consider that people can go into shopping centres, cafes and restaurants.
This sobering chart is not about Aberdeen. Could be any Club. Going to the Euros reminds us, certainly those of us old enough to remember, that Scottish Football has the unique ability to galvanise a whole nation, perhaps more so today than at any other time. https://t.co/F82GbHomqo
— Dave Cormack (@CormackDavie) November 14, 2020
3/ Scottish Football's investment in academies also runs into the millions every single year. At Aberdeen it's £1.5m a year. Our U21 national team is on the brink of reaching their finals too. Arguably, these boys are the best group of young players we've developed.
— Dave Cormack (@CormackDavie) November 14, 2020
6/ Finally, it's about time we as Scottish Football fans stood up for the good we do, the lives we touch, & the positivity we bring to our communities. If we as fans don't stand up for Scottish Football… who else will! For us… Nothing Matters More!
— Dave Cormack (@CormackDavie) November 14, 2020
Clubs are haemorrhaging cash as the turnstiles remain closed and Cormack wants some dialogue as to when clubs can start the safe return of football to secure their future.
Celtic need to apply pressure and support Cormack as the Scottish Government dither on changes in the restrictions. The virus is on the rise and caution must be the rallying cry of all in the wake of this; however, clubs have spent a lot of money to facilitate new protocols for the arrival of supporters.
The Scottish Champions have already installed Spectrum X technology and the Northern Irish FA provided a trial for this ahead of their Euro 2020 play-off.
One of the keys to getting fans back inside sports venues?
All of the 1000 N Ireland supporters allowed inside Windsor Park must pass through one of these ‘disinfecting pods’ & have temperature checks. pic.twitter.com/JRSUasQKFP— Dan Roan (@danroan) November 12, 2020
1000 Belfast supporters were allowed to enter the game and were disinfected and had their temperature in order to watch the game live.
Last month, photos emerged of the SpectrumX walk-through technology making its way to Celtic Park in order to make it safe for supporters to see the Scottish Champions in action again. This equipment would allow the club to hasten the return of fans.
Hopefully the Scottish Government will see sense and allow supporters to enter grounds in small numbers initially to test the viability and safety of the procedures that they spent a fortune installing. Fans across Europe have been allowed back, even in small numbers; however, Celtic fans must await the all clear from the Scottish and UK Governments that insist on dragging their heels.
