I’m not sure what Czech team Celtic’s Scotland contingent of Callum McGregor, Ryan Christie, James Forrest and Greg Taylor will be playing on Monday night in Olomouc but I’m certain the interests of sport or safety are not uppermost in those who are demanding this game goes ahead.
After the Czech Republic announced the games postponement, they now appear to have been overruled by governing body UEFA. Is this in the interest of a Corinthian sporting spirit and to ensure the other teams in the Nations League group are not disadvantaged?
There could be an argument for that had it not been the case that the host nation is going to have to entertain Scotland with an entirely new team and coaching staff. Doesn’t exactly scream fairness and sporting integrity does it?
Czech Republic won 3-1 in Slovakia on Friday after delaying their trip to Bratislava
Also read this…There’s a lunacy to all of this as UEFA state Czech Republic v Scotland on Monday is back on
And the sporting side of this decision is secondary in any case to the safety of those players we are now being asked to transport to the Czech Republic.
According to the BBC :
Czech Republic v Scotland: Scots to face ‘new players’ as game goes ahead – BBC Sport
Scotland will face a Czech Republic squad made up with “new players and staff members” after both nations and Uefa confirmed the game will go ahead. The Czechs announced on Friday that Monday’s …www.bbc.co.uk
‘The Czechs announced on Friday that Monday’s Nations League game was off after a Covid-19 outbreak. Tomas Soucek and Patrik Schick were told to self-isolate following contact with a backroom staff member who tested positive for the virus.
Uefa last week outlined principles for scenarios where Covid-19 impacted fixtures, stating that a game would go ahead as long as a team had at least 13 players available, including a goalkeeper.’
Is this entirely new team that is expected to take the field all from the squad of players announced prior to this round of fixtures? Have those players not been in any contact with Soucek and Schick, the players told to isolate after coming into contact with the backroom staff member who tested positive? Or is the Czech Republic now being allowed to bring in fresh players not included in the original group of players named in the squad. Where do EUFA guidelines stand on that?
The SFA seem weak on this and until yesterday stated they hadn’t even had any conversations with their Czech counterparts. Speaking to BBC Sportsound Ian Maxwell said:
“Until Uefa tells us otherwise, we’re preparing for the game to go ahead. The contact time we will have as a squad in Czech Republic is very limited.
“I’ve not heard from anyone officially at the Czech FA. Uefa spoke to the Czech FA on Saturday morning.”
It seems it’s not just a flight landing in Prague it’s the usual Blazer gravy train in full swing. There’s a knees-up on expenses to be had here and if Uefa say it’s fine no-one is going to question it from within the SFA.
The SFA may have had no contact from within the Czech Republic however Prague67Bhoy, a well-known member of the Celtic Noise fans forum, used that platform to raise his own concerns over the involvement of the Celtic players heading out for this game. As someone who resides and works there it’s worth a read:
“I really hope the game in Prague will be postponed. I teach at a grammar school in Prague and a great many of my students have not returned this term due to isolation issues with covid-19.
“To be transparent, I couldn’t give a toss about the SFA representation albeit that a good number of bhoys are in the team. However, we are experiencing a spike in cases in Prague and I would err on the side of caution.
“Yesterday, a weakened Czech team steamrollered a weakened Slovak team in Bratislava in a game where the ref offered as much protection as Andrew Dallas on a bad day! I want nothing to interfere with our quest for Ten-in-a-Row, and this game is an unneeded risk.
“Your fears are real and I share them. To make matters worse, the game is in Olomouc (about three hours by train from Prague….or four hours by bus on the D1 which is the worst highway in the country.) I could understand choosing Olomouc (pronounced All-oo-mouts) if there would be some fans attending, but with no fans the game should have been switched to allow an easier in and out.”
No exactly the most reassuring take from someone living and working there is it?
It seems the Czechs have already played a little fast and loose with the guidelines when travelling to Slovakia for Friday night’s encounter. According to the BBC:
‘The Czechs’ plans for Friday’s match in Slovakia, a 3-1 win, were affected after West Ham midfielder Soucek and RB Leipzig striker Schick were told to quarantine and the Czech FA delayed the departure for Bratislava by 24 hours while the entire squad was retested. Players then made the 200-mile journey by road after splitting up into small groups.’
So, the Czech’s sent a side to Bratislava having already felt the need to retest and despite the virus not necessarily showing as positive and able to return as negative for a number of days. Therefore, a positive test could still be returned. It’s the reason we are self-isolating for 14 days.
So, having already risked one nation in Slovakia, we’re now having another Country having to risk their players also.
What on earth is Uefa thinking here, why are Scotland agreeing to this and where is Jason Leitch and Nicola Sturgeon on this one? They seemed on it like a bonnet when Boli Bolingoli and the Aberdeen Eight were playing fast and loose at home, or was that simply a convenient opportunity to bury bad news during the exam results fiasco. If not let’s hear from them.
There have been far too many errors from this Czech side for Scotland to be assured 100% – or at least beyond reasonable doubt – that to play this game is safe for all our players involved.
If the SFA is unwilling to take a stand on this for fear of putting noses out of joint at UEFA and haven’t even made contact for any re-assurance with their Czech counterparts, preferring instead to take all of their guidance from a ruling body – who appear far more interested in economic fallout rather than the safety of the players – then Celtic need to step up and pull our players out of this encounter. I’m sure there will be fines and public condemnation but I couldn’t care less.
Celtic have too much at stake and have done too much hard work behind the scenes when it comes to protecting players and staff from Covid 19 for it to be threatened in any way by those with motives weighted more towards TV obligations and sponsorship than the duty of care they have to the professionals who represent their country.
It’s time Celtic took a stand and called our Bhoys back. There is too much at stake to consider anything less.
Niall J
Also on The Celtic Star this morning…Walfrid & The Bould Bhoys – Founding Father John O’Hara, The Derry Director
