We all saw this coming, didn’t we.
Following the ‘three week shutdown’ for the Scottish Premiership and reduction in supporter attendance to a ridiculous and tiny 500 for the game in the top tier, further warnings and scare stories have came from politicos Jason Leitch and John Swinney regarding the potential return of fans.
Scotland’s national clinical director was quoted on BBC Radio Scotland yesterday, with a warning that the current restrictions could be ushed back into February, if the threat from rising cases persists:
“The modelling suggests that the peak of the Omicron wave in the United Kingdom will be somewhere around mid to late January, maybe even pushing into February.”
“That will depend quite a lot on human behaviour, it will depend on what we do now.”
“We may not want the peak earlier remember, because if this is an enormous wave we may want it to draw out over a longer period because you might then get more people vaccinated.”
Meanwhile, no such restrictions for shopping centres and other surroundings such as airports, as football crowds take the brunt of the arbitrary targeting of large scale events, under the SNP and Nicola Sturgeon.
As yet, there has been no specific data produced regarding transmission at outdoor stadiums.
Dread
Today, Swinney also spoke on BBC Radio regarding case number doubling over recent days. He didn’t provide any encouragement regarding the rearranged Old Firm game, due for February, instead opting for caution with a claim that his administration want to remove the restrictions. When specifically asked about supporters being admitted to Parkhead, Swinney responded:
“Well that’s a long way off, the 2nd of February, so we’ll take that as it comes.”
“What I would say is that the government doesn’t want to have these restrictions in place a moment longer than they are necessary.”
That last comment will be met with suspicion by many and just adds to the folly of clubs kicking the can down rhe road, claiming to want the return of fans for games yet knowing it is very unlikely anytime soon.
Yes, the wait goes on and for the majority, football returns to TV only.