The SFA has no sanctions or punishments for clubs that ignore testing and put opponents and their families at risk in pursuit of football points.
After all the statements, committees and sub-committees set up by the Joint Response Group the reality is that the SFA have no commitment to the welfare of players, coaches and their families.
While highlighting their ‘strict precautions’ the reality is that, just like Financial Fair Play and Director appointments clubs can do whatever they like with complete disregard for their fellow members.
On Wednesday afternoon Steven Gerrard selected nine players to face Dundee United that hadn’t returned a negative test in the previous seven days.
Greg Stewart, Jordan Jones, Calvin Bassey, Ross McCrorie and others needed game time which was deemed much more important that the health of the Dundee United players and their families.
Late on Thursday night the Daily Record revealed the details of what went on at Murray Park on Wednesday.
In Austria LASK Linz were deducted 12 points for breaching the rules regarding training. The Austrian club put their own players at risk while seeking to get them fitter and sharper than their opponents when the season resumed.
Despite putting everyone at Dundee United at risk the Daily Mail reports:
Currently the Joint Response Group simply ask clubs to abide by a set of virus advisory guidelines.
Following crunch talks with the Scottish Government on Friday, however, Hampden powerbrokers are set to upgrade the guidelines to a set of firm instructions before next weekend’s Premiership kick-off, with potential sanctions for those who fail to comply.
Clubs have already been ordered to return to two tests per week for players and staff after question marks over the testing of Rangers players who took part in a game against Dundee United on Wednesday.
Faced with the same situation last Saturday Hibs called off their friendly with Ross County. The Dingwall club weren’t pleased but at least they were spared the worry of playing against untested opponents.
Like Celtic, Ross County paid out £35,000 to buy a testing machine which has running costs of around £4,000 a week. At Ibrox they prefer to spend money on the wages of Bassey and Jon McLaughlin. While putting the Dundee United players at risk Gerrard was finalising a deal to add Leon Balogun to the company wage bill.
When the news from Murray Park broke it was assumed that, like Dominic Cummings, a different set of rules applied to the club from Ibrox. Now it has been confirmed that there are no sanctions or punishments.
Every Premiership club has just had their testing bill doubled. McCrorie and Jones got ‘game time in their legs’ with attention conveniently centred on St Mirren.