Nicola Sturgeon today kept Scottish football waiting on her decision on whether to allow Sunday’s Glasgow Derby at Celtic Park to proceed after the disgraceful scenes in Glasgow last weekend involving theRangers supporters’ players and even their manager – all celebrating their first ever league title.
The First Minister was in no mood to take the pressure off Scottish football Speaking at the Scottish Government media briefing earlier today and while she welcomes the various club statements from both Celtic and covid culprits theRangers she revealed that no final decision had yet been reached on whether the game would go ahead.
“I hope the clubs will continue that over the next few days,” Nicola Sturgeon said as reported by Sky Sports. “It’s not just a one statement and the work is done.
Photo: Jane Barlow
“I spoke to the chief constable personally last week on his views on what might transpire if the (Glasgow Derby) match goes ahead. We will be in further contact with police over the course of this week.
“They will have intelligence of their own on whether it appears to them that fans in the main are following the advice or whether there is a significant risk of fans coming out to gather. On the basis of all of that we will have to take a judgement.
“I don’t want to be in a position, I never want to be in a position, of standing here and saying football matches can’t go ahead, or any of the other things that we really enjoy in life can’t go ahead.
Photo: Jane Barlow
“But that’s the reality while we are still in this position. Big gatherings present a risk of transmission and we are trying to get transmission as low as possible so that we can open up all of the things we enjoy doing.
“That’s why we have to be careful and considered about this. I think a lot of people felt aggrieved at what happened a week past Saturday and Sunday, and understandably so because everybody is still living under these difficult restrictions.”
Celtic continued their own messaging to the support, although there seems little danger that the Celtic support will be looking to going anyway near the ground on Sunday. Celtic FC SLO John Paul Taylor was also active today doing his best to ensure that the message has got through.
Scott Brown, the Celtic captain released a statement on the official Celtic website this afternoon.
Scott Brown’s message to fans: Stay safe and stay at home…
Celtic today attended an update meeting with National Clinical Director Jason Leitch, where a number of Club personnel, including interim manager John Kennedy and captain Scott Brown were briefed on the latest situation concerning COVID-19 in Scotland.
Celtic also participated in a multi-agency meeting on Friday, as we look ahead to the Club’s match on Sunday, March 21.
Photo: Andrew Milligan
The Scottish Government has already made clear to Celtic that it does not in any way associate the scenes last weekend with Celtic or our supporters. Although Celtic and our supporters are desperate to get back to Celtic Park to support the team, the Club and our supporters are, of course, mindful of the risks associated with public gatherings at this important time.
The Club will continue to be clear in our messaging to our supporters of the importance of staying at home in line with guidance throughout the pandemic. We have communicated regularly around our fixtures and our supporters have worked with the Club responsibly – the celebrations after our historic nine-in-a-row title triumph last summer and after our unprecedented Quadruple Treble Scottish Cup win in December are two key examples of that.
We will re-emphasise that message for this fixture as we have done during the season and we are sure that our supporters will work with the Club while the restrictions remain in place.
Photo: Andrew Milligan
Following today’s meeting, Celtic captain Scott Brown reiterated that message. He said: “It was very interesting to hear the latest update and the message was really loud and clear – that we are still in a very difficult situation and that while we have made some good progress, so many people are continuing to contract the virus, so many in hospital and, of course, tragically, people are still dying. So we need to do all we can to look after each other and protect ourselves and our families.
“We know it has been so difficult for our fans not being part of matches, but they have done brilliantly throughout the pandemic. Our supporters have been great in sticking to the guidelines, even after we have won the League and another Treble, so we just need more of the same.
“Our priority will always be the safety of our fans and that is all we want to ensure, so our message once again is enjoy our matches from home and keep you and your family safe.
“All the players can’t wait to have our fans back with us, but for now we send our sincere thanks and appreciation for helping us to meet this challenge and also for the great support we have had all season.”
Hopefully the First Minister will give the game the go-ahead later this week and assuming it is getting played please stay away from the ground so that the rest of the games – including the Scottish Cup matches – are allowed to proceed.
