Scottish football is braced for a toxic time as the SPFL deal with the call to bring forward the winter break by three rounds of fixtures.
Critical to the issue is the Glasgow derby scheduled for January 2 but now in doubt with a limit of 500 fans allowed to attend.
That figure isn’t in any way practical and is repeated at a number of fixtures before January 3 including the Edinburgh derby with St Johnstone and Aberdeen due to enjoy decent pay days as they host clubs from Glasgow.
Every club will be affected with the period from December 26 to January 3 normally seeing bigger than average crowds with knock on benefits for catering and merchandising.
Motherwell are scheduled to face Livingston on Sunday followed by away days at Ross County and St Mirren with their Chief Executive well aware of the side issues surrounding the decision to play on or bring forward the winter break.
Speaking to Alan Burrows, The Sun reports:
I’ve grown up in the west of Scotland and I understand it. But we all have to forget injuries, suspensions and 500 fans for this Old Firm game, against 50,000 at Ibrox.
I know it’s important to supporters and it plays a big part in things. But look at St Johnstone playing Celtic on Boxing Day and what that would normally bring to them in cash.
Think of Aberdeen and the money they will lose from their home games. These clubs have had 18 months of real tough times of trying to stay afloat and we need to stick together.
We need to be above the, I don’t want to say pettiness as that’s what makes football great, but this is a global pandemic. While these restrictions are in place, we have to do what is fundamentally right for Scottish football.
If we can protect the supporters coming to games, let’s try our best to do that. I understand the difficulties facing the SPFL, but I believe there are ample dates to fit in fixtures. Playing games with 500 fans should be the last resort, not the first resort.”
In 2020 a vote of SPFL clubs agreed to call the season in March with eight rounds of fixtures to go with the final tables based on average points per game.
Get this lot to fxck all they seem to do is one lot say black they say white
One mob in this set up now just want to fck everything up. I’d love to see there comments if all there games were at home, which is surprising there not. They should get antibodies from this lot as they seem to be covid free.
Once again celtic have to just rise above it as the masons dictate what is best for sevco and the unionist establishment. Just like last year celtic at a disadvantage. But it’s just a coincidence.