Zoom calls scheduled as SPFL circuit breaker is discussed

Scottish football’s Joint Response Group are discussing bringing in circuit breaker ahead of the busiest run of fixtures.

Celtic will play four matches between December 22 and January 2 but with four EPL fixtures postponed this weekend and matches like Burnley v Watford postponed a few hours before kick-off nothing can be taken for granted.

Crowds of 50,000 on successive days in Glasgow this weekend seem to be causing some concern for the Scottish Government but it seems that the broadcast deal with Sky Sports is the biggest driver in the Scottish game.

The Glasgow and Edinburgh derbies on January 2 and 3 are scheduled to be shown live with no more SPFL football scheduled until the last week in January.

Covering a fast moving situation, the Daily Record reports:

The three week winter break is scheduled to begin after the Edinburgh derby on January 3 and the Joint Response Group (JRG) are determined to see out the first half of season, according to The Daily Mail.

However, bringing the break forward or axing games could see the bumper £25million-a-year television deal with Sky slashed.

The postponement of scheduled matches, including the Rangers and Celtic clash on January 2, would cost clubs over £500,000 per game.

The JRG are set to hold Zoom meetings with clubs from all four leagues in the coming days to call for them to take action to limit the spread of the virus and reach the winter break.

Livingston manager David Martindale believes Scottish football should speed up its two-week shutdown as the Omicron variant begins to bite, however, Robbie Neilson, Thomas Courts & Malky Mackay disagree.

What do you think??

— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) December 16, 2021

Playing in front of reduced capacities or Behind Closed Doors are options that will be discussed but the tightened protocols are leading to more players having to self-isolate with Dundee United short of four players for tomorrow’s trip to Ibrox.

Celtic face St Mirren on December 23, St Johnstone on the 26th, Hibs at home on the 29th then the Glasgow derby on January 2.

In season 2019/20 the SPFL season ended after 30 rounds of fixtures with just two of four Glasgow derbies delivered to Sky Sports.