The Scottish Premiership has been given the ok by the government to continue amid stricter lockdown conditions – but it’s “unlikely” Rangers fans will be back in Ibrox anytime soon.
As talk of stricter Covid-19 regulations gathered apace it looked to be a hammer blow to the Rangers board’s hopes of getting fans back into Ibrox in 2020.
Now, as First Minister Nicola Sturgeon introduced strict new nationwide measures about visiting houses and pub closing times, plans to get fans back into grounds have been dealt a major hit.
Original plans to have the phased return of fans from the 5th of October are now “unlikely” according to the First Minister, with the situation around pilot events to be reviewed in three weeks.
This indicative date was already pushed back from the 14th of September.
This means that the upcoming Celtic Park Old Firm derby on October 17th also looks increasingly likely to be played behind closed doors despite attempts to draw a crowd.
Addressing the Scottish Parliament, Sturgeon said [BBC Scotland]:
“It’s important I indicate today that the route map changes with an indicative date of October 5 are unlikely now to go ahead on that timescale.”
It remains unclear if the situation may change in the coming months but it is generally accepted that the situation surrounding Covid-19 will likely get worse in the autumn and winter months.
Rangers have previously talked up their hopes of getting fans back into Ibrox as soon as it is safe to do so after the club’s support sold out this year’s season tickets despite the backdrop of uncertainty.
