Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon has drawn the ire of Rangers fans for her comments regarding Covid-19 positives from the much-criticised title celebrations last weekend.
Rangers have been beaten from pillar to post by the government in the aftermath of public gatherings following the club’s legendary 55th title victory.
Despite that – and newspaper efforts to sensationalise the situation – it remains unclear just how big an impact the gatherings at George Square and Ibrox have had on the Covid-19 situation in Scotland.
However, it is clear there has been an increase in the seven-day average in Scotland and Glasgow, something Gregor Smith, the nation’s Chief Medical Officer, attributed more relevantly to schools.
Whilst he did mention Rangers fan celebrations, Smith said [Glasgow Times]:
“The reasons why? When schools go back it releases parents to do more things. There has been outbreaks in institutions and these factors come together to cause an uptick.”
Whilst it has been confirmed that Covid-19 positives were amongst the crowds Nicola Sturgeon also suggested Rangers fans in attendance have been misleading Test & Protect.
The baseless claims – which even Sturgeon ended with “I don’t know” – have been taken as yet another smite on the Rangers support.
“There has been a very small number of cases we think through the case management system associated with the gatherings at Rangers,” said Sturgeon [Scottish Sun].
“There may be more – maybe people who were at that, if they have got the virus, they may not be saying they were at that, I don’t know.”
Rangers fans – already reeling from much of the coverage of the celebrations – have criticised Sturgeon for making assumptive claims with no evidence:
https://twitter.com/KelmanPeter/status/1372216891209564161
https://twitter.com/ChrisMcL16/status/1372206480397631491
https://twitter.com/iJuggernaut6/status/1372213210053545984
Whilst Rangers fans certainly don’t appreciate these suggestions from Sturgeon the club has responded to calls to be more active in asking fans to stay at home ahead of the weekend’s Old Firm.
So much so that Rangers supporters reacted sarcastically at the release of a club video involving a host of first team players reiterating the Stay at Home message.
