Rangers will continue to monitor the situation ahead of their scheduled trip to play Slavia Prague in the Czech Republic next week, with the Covid situation in the country described as a ‘disaster’.
Ibrox chiefs will be looking to UEFA if the situation deteriorates further but as things stand, the game will be hosted as planned by Slavia.
In recent weeks, we have watched on as games have been switched to neutral venues across Europe due to governments imposing travel sanctions – Liverpool faced RB Leipzig in Budapest, whilst Arsenal faced Benfica in Rome and Athens.
In the main, travel exemptions are still in place for work and elite sports allowing disruptions to be kept to a minimum.
Today the Daily Record reported on the Czech situation:
“The Czech Republic is currently battling the world’s worst coronavirus surge, recording the highest case rate per capita over the past week.”
“It’s led to the introduction of the country’s hardest lockdown yet from March 1, with strict travel restrictions placed on citizens.”
“A complete shutdown could incur a complete sealing of the borders, as has been seen elsewhere, forcing Rangers’ last 16 clash with Slavia to a neutral venue.”
Meanwhile, CNN have reported on how the Czech authorities have not handled the pandemic effectively, making mistakes leading to the current ‘disaster’:
“On an epidemiological map of the world, the Czech Republic shows up as a tiny island of doom and gloom.”
“While the global number of new coronavirus cases has been dropping for six consecutive weeks, the Central European nation of 10 million has been experiencing near record levels of new infections.”
“A new, more infectious variant of the virus has spread across the country, pushing Czech hospitals to the brink of collapse.”
“The country’s death toll has just surpassed 20,000. Its death rate is among the highest in the world.”
This is an ongoing fluid situation to monitor but hopefully there will no late disruption for both Rangers and Slavia Prague to contend with.
At present, the Czech Republic is not listed on the devolved Scottish government’s ‘acute risk’ list of countries, from which entry is prohibited.
The Europa League last 16, first leg tie is due to be played at Slavia’s Sinobo Stadium next week, Thursday 11th March.