Next Saturday’s Glasgow derby could be under threat as traditional media whip up a fervour with the added dynamic that it will be played with most of Scotland in an alcoholic Lockdown.
Tonight at 6pm pubs from Ayrshire, Lanarkshire, Glasgow and Edinburgh will pull down the shutters for a 16 day period as the Scottish Government bring in a circuit break to try and contain the virus.
Playing the Glasgow derby behind closed doors throws fresh angles onto the match as a sports story but the Lockdown aspect gives the news sections the opportunity to go into Old Firm overdrive.
With one of the biggest alcohol problems in Europe people in Scotland don’t need any encouragement to over indulge- add in football to the mix and the results can be seen in Accident and Emergency units throughout the Central Belt on big match days.
Since the advent of live television 20 years ago it has become the norm for many to watch the derby match in a pub, with that option unavailable next weekend elements of the media are ready to whip up a fervour to watch the match elsewhere is an alcoholic fuzz.
In typical Old Firm obsessive reporting the Daily Record overdoses on the Old Firm theme as they speak to mystery Old Firm fans to get their views on the Old Firm and next Saturday’s crunch Old Firm match which will be played between the Old Firm clubs:
One Old Firm fan, who didn’t want to be named, told the Record how he intended to flout the rules and invite friends’ round for the big game.
He said: “This is the only time I see my pals and if they want to come by for a drink to watch the game, I’ll welcome them.”
Supporters from both sides of the Old Firm divide spoke of their sadness at being forced to watch the game at home.
Davy Blair, of the Bridgeton Chosen Few Rangers Supporters Club, said: “I disagree with it and think the pubs should be open.
“It is the Old Firm, something everyone looks forward to, and is sometimes the only chance people have to get out of the house. It just won’t be the same watching it from the house alone.”
Other football fans appealed directly to the First Minister. Ross Campbell tweeted: “Old Firm house gatherings are going to be absolute carnage. House party numbers will rise as you are now only able to drink in an uncontrolled environment. These restrictions will do absolutely nothing. And if others are then enforced, there will be an absolute riot.
Rather than relax licencing laws for the day of the match it’s more likely that the authorities will question the wisdom of letting the match be played as scheduled.
Over the next week many more Old Firm experts are likely to share their feelings on the Old Firm match and whether playing the Old Firm with pubs closed makes the Old Firm a likely virus spreader.