Next season’s Glasgow derbies could all be put back until after the new year as Scottish football prepares for Behind Closed Doors Matches and restricted attendances.
The Joint Response Group for Scottish football has set up a number of sub-committees to look at various aspects of the resumption with broadcasting at the heart of most areas.
Over the last four seasons there has been two derbies played before the January break, one in March followed by a post-split match.
Lockdown came two days before the third clash of the 2019/20 season with radical plans in place to maximise exposure for next season’s matches after Sky missed out on two derby fixtures in the season just ended.
The Sun reports:
SPFL chiefs are considering a host of changes as they consider how the new season will look after lockdown.
One of the proposals being discussed is to delay all four Premiership derbies between Celtic and Rangers until after the New Year to avoid playing them behind closed doors.
It’s understood the idea has the support of clubs and Sky TV, whose new £125million contract kicks in next season, would also rubber-stamp the move.
The hope is that by the time the Celtic v Rangers clashes come around in 2021, Government rules about large public gatherings could be relaxed.
Behind Closed Doors matches are likely to be the norm for the start of next season with social distancing still in place.
Spacing matches out is likely with the fixture card likely to be top heavy after the new year with the winter break likely to give way as clubs attempt to get back to normal.
The Joint Response Group meet with the Scottish Government on Friday as both parties attempt to work out the safest way back from Lockdown.
