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Celtic & Coronavirus and competitions!

Discussion in 'Celtic Chat' started by LectersLuncheon, Mar 2, 2020.

Discuss Celtic & Coronavirus and competitions! in the Celtic Chat area at TalkCeltic.net.

  1. MickeyyMack CELTIC GLASGOW OK Gold Member

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    Scottish League One clubs have agreed to start the 2020/21 season on 17 October and play 27 games instead of 36. They will follow the same calendar as the Championship. Premiership is still scheduled to begin on 1 August as things stand.
     
  2. Henrik 07 Gold Member Gold Member

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    Top flight clubs were placed on collision course with the Scottish Government after First Minister Nicola Sturgeon insisted it may be months before she will allow fans to return to the game.

    As revealed by Record Sport ambitious, detailed planning is being carried out to stage ‘test events’ at both Celtic Park and BT Murrayfield - with Parkhead chief executive Peter Lawwell hoping to open the turnstiles again before the end of this month to stage a trial run in a pre-season friendly.



    SRU chiefs have also put forward a proposal to let around 1,000 supporters into the relaunch of the Pro-14 when Glasgow Warriors face Edinburgh at the home of rugby on August 22.

    And Aberdeen also announced plans to let as many as 7,500 punters back into Pittodrie shortly after the season begins on August 1 as the Premiership attempts to protect itself from the potentially catastrophic financial fall-out of the coronavirus pandemic.

    But the FM appeared to torpedo those proposals when, along with National Clinical Director Professor Jason Leitch, she hammered home the message that COVID-19 could keep the gates shut beyond October.


    That prompted a furious response from some of the country’s leading clubs - with her comments also urgently discussed at a meeting of football’s Joint Response Group.


    And, as the drama unfolded, one Premiership chief executive told Record Sport : “There is an undercurrent of fury around Scottish football. The government appears to be disregarding the social, cultural and economic importance of the game in this country and their actions may have catastrophic consequences.


    “It’s a sensitive issue so there is an understandable reluctance for people in the game to express this anger in public but many of us feel as if these consequences are not being taken into consideration.


    And it is heightened when clubs in this country watch others from all round Europe get back to playing matches with crowds.

    “We’re already miles behind England who are up and running behind closed doors and are in advanced discussions with the Department of Culture Media and Sport about re-opening the turnstiles.

    “By comparison the dismissive approach of the government in this country could be disastrous for our national sport. Unless they change their position it could cause a catastrophic event for the Scottish game.”



    She doubled down: “Football with crowds has not been pencilled in for October. We haven’t taken that decision yet.

    “Jason was simply trying to find a way of saying, ‘Don’t assume it will be October when we get crowds back,’.


    “So do not take from this that we have given football an October provisional date for crowds being back. That’s not the case and actually I don’t think it’s a fair interpretation of what Jason actually said.”

    On Tuesday, Lawwell revealed in Record Sport that he had not given up hope of allowing limited numbers of socially distanced fans into Celtic Park for the opening league game of the season on the first weekend of August.




    The champions are also working on a plan to open the stadium to some supporters for a pre-season friendly on July 25.

    And Aberdeen believe their ground could be open to the paying public within weeks of the new season starting up behind closed doors.

    In a statement the Pittodrie club said: “As we emerge from lockdown and restrictions are easing, the situation with regards to football is changing on an almost daily basis.




    With positive progress on the fight against COVID‐19, there may now only be a few home games behind closed doors, and we could get back to playing in front of partial crowds earlier than anticipated.

    “AFC will, of course, be guided by Government advice and the guidelines from the footballing authorities.

    “With the opening league game only four weeks away, we are now making preparations for matches at Pittodrie both behind closed doors and with a reduced capacity, initially allowing access for 7,500 season ticket holders, assuming one metre social distancing.
     
    Last edited: Jul 2, 2020
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  3. oh bhoy

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    Has there been any discussion of what the plans are in the event of another lockdown ? Is it going to be top of the league takes it again, say after 1 game is played if We draw and some other * like ross county win 6-0 lockdown2 occurs is that the end of '10 in a row' as every * outside Celtic will be screaming for that outcome. the season should of been finished behind closed doors to avoid any of that * .decisions are needed now because no effort will be spared to stop the 10
     
  4. Marie Bookmaker

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    That's a ridiculous scenario, there is a major difference between over 75% of games being played to one game being played.
     
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  5. oh bhoy

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    Aye but even if it occured after 10 or 15 games of whatever number of games what's the protocol
     
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  6. Marie Bookmaker

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    I don't have a clue, I was pointing out the ridiculousness of you post, nothing else.

    I'm sure after what's happened this season that the SPFL and clubs will have came to an agreement going forward.
     
  7. NomDePlum

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    The SPFL have asked the club's to give them the power to decide what happens under whatever circumstances would be involved to avoid what happened at the end of this season.

    I'm pretty sure that has no chance of happening regardless of any merit. So will likely be the usual bun fight, if it does happen. Not sure I spelled "bun" right there.
     
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  8. packybhoy Administrator Administrator Gold Member

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    Outwith Celtic it could be called a * fight. :39:
     
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  9. Henrik 07 Gold Member Gold Member

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  10. NomDePlum

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    Far more hopeful that I expected a few months back. Great news.
     
  11. McChiellini..

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    Deffo gonna be a full house at some point this season..
     
  12. Luis1967 Gold Member Gold Member

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    Even Man City?
     
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  13. Henrik 07 Gold Member Gold Member

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    Celtic, Rangers, Motherwell and Aberdeen fans have been dealt a body blow by UEFA as the governing body ruled that the majority of European qualifiers will be played behind closed doors.

    The restrictions will encompass Europa League and Champions League qualifying matches for 2020/21 played over a single leg - all qualifiers bar Celtic 's final Champions League playoff.


    The European governing body claimed the decision was taken "for reasons of sporting fairness".

    It means that fans of Scottish clubs won't be permitted at European games even if the Covid-19 situation has improved to the point they are able to watch domestic football.
     
  14. MickeyyMack CELTIC GLASGOW OK Gold Member

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    SPFL LATEST

    BREAKING



    Scottish Government give official approval for professional football to take place behind closed doors from August 1



    Teams can now play pre-season friendlies "with immediate effect"
     
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  15. Henrik 07 Gold Member Gold Member

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    The Joint Response Group has received written approval from Scottish Government for the Scottish Premiership season to begin on the weekend of 1 August.

    The government has also confirmed that Premiership clubs can prepare for the kick-off by participating in bounce games played at club training grounds and friendly matches inside stadia with immediate effect.

    These matches will be arranged behind closed doors, in line with current public health guidance, and including once-weekly testing from Monday 13 July.

    The Scottish FA board will also discuss an appropriate timeline for the phased lifting of its suspension for other parts of the professional and non-professional game - including the remaining three SPFL divisions, the Scottish football pyramid, women’s football and grassroots – in light of the First Minister’s announcement on phase 3 of the government’s route map out of the COVID-19 crisis.

    Details of the phased lifting of suspension will be announced shortly.

    Mike Mulraney, Interim Scottish FA President: “Scottish football, and the millions of fans for whom the national game is a fabric of their daily lives, are now starting to see light at the end of the tunnel.

    “We welcome the Scottish Government’s approval of the August 1 start date for the Scottish Premiership and the ability for Premiership clubs to prepare for that kick-off immediately.

    “The First Minister’s updated guidance also gives great encouragement for boys and girls across the country that grassroots football for under-18s will soon return.

    “The JRG has been in daily liaison with government advisers to get us to this point. I would urge everyone to continue to adhere to the public health messages to ensure no complacency as the return to football becomes tantalisingly close.

    “We will continue to plan for the return of the game at all levels and communicate milestones at the appropriate time. I would like to pay tribute to the work of the JRG, its sub groups and everyone involved in the game for the efforts that have gotten us to this point.”

    Neil Doncaster, SPFL Chief Executive: “Today’s approvals are a significant step forward for Scottish Premiership clubs and provide the necessary clarity to prepare for the new season. The ability for clubs to arrange and participate in friendly matches is important on and off the field as momentum builds towards what will be a welcome and exciting return to Scottish football starting 1 August.”
     
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  16. Henrik 07 Gold Member Gold Member

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    CELTIC have expressed the hope that Scottish football will not be left behind as grounds re-open to supporters around Europe.

    Following the indication of 'pilot' games with spectators in the rest of the UK from next month, Celtic believe that the same approach can safely be adopted in Scotland.

    Celtic Chief Executive Peter Lawwell said: "We have discussed the idea of 'pilot' games with the Scottish Government and believe it provides a safe, sensible way forward. As a club, we have put enormous thought and effort into making Celtic Park fully compliant with all public health-related requirements while allowing our supporters to return to watching football.

    "It is acknowledged that Scottish football has been exemplary in implementing all the safeguards required of it, first to get back into training and, from August 1st, to playing competitive SPFL matches.

    "We are convinced that this should now be accompanied by a phased return of spectators which would be good, not only for the game of football but also for public health and morale in Scotland more generally.

    "Scottish clubs are much more dependent on matchday revenues than other, larger leagues. That factor should be taken account of, so long as the public health obligations are met, to which we are entirely committed.

    "We also have an obligation to our own supporters to make the case for them to be allowed to watch live football, particularly when they can see the steady progress towards this in other European leagues.

    "Alongside other sporting bodies, Celtic will continue to engage in constructive dialogue with the Scottish Government and look forward to early progress."
     
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  17. Dan Breen

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    Pedro has spoken, take note Nicola.
     
  18. dbhoy72

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    Aye Peter, let's just see how it pans out ffs.

    There's a global pandemic killing people and it's more than likely going to come back again in next few months as it gets colder.

    Too busy worrying about * bonuses.

    For me fans should get refunded and have the option to buy a virtual ticket, or sign off as they're OK with the club keeping their dough and giving this option to view.

    I'd rather its behind closed doors until there's a vaccine that actually will work or if some miracle it's eradicated.
     
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  19. PaulM1888 Moderator Moderator Gold Member

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    Lawwell well within his rights, as he says, Scottish football can’t get left behind whilst the rest of Europe moves gradually towards fans being back into the stadiums watching games.

    Anyone choosing to see wrong in that I would question their motives.
     
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  20. honda Gold Member Gold Member

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    More people die a day in scotland via car crash than covid19 right now. If it's not safe to return while adhering to extra measures such as distance and masks then football is over until a vaccine is ready. A vaccine that may never come.