The Daily Mail reports via the Scottish Sun that fans may not return to Scottish football before the end of the 2020/21 season.
Previously, October had been seen as a realistic target for limited numbers of supporters to return to stadia across the country, with test events held earlier this month suggesting that progress was being made towards that goal.
However, a spike in cases across the UK has led to tighter restrictions which could be in place for an extended period.
It’s within that context that the Daily Mail claims via the Scottish Sun that key figures in Scottish football fear matches may end up taking place behind closed doors for the duration of the season.
It’s asserted that the SFA and SPFL Joint Response Group is setting about explaining the situation to clubs throughout the SPFL pyramid via a series of emergency zoom meetings.
Lowland League clubs have reportedly already been briefed while League One and Two clubs are next on the agenda.
The last match to take place in Scotland without crowd restrictions was Rangers’ Europa League Last 16 first-leg clash against Bayer Leverkusen on 12 March, which was watched by 47,494 fans at Ibrox.
Fans may not return in Scottish football this season – Verdict
Supporters have long since accepted that a significant chunk of the 2020/21 campaign would be played behind closed doors.
Recent test events at Premiership grounds gave hope that a limited number of fans would return to games next month, though, while others expected that restrictions would be relaxed further following the turn of the year.
However, things are now looking much bleaker and the prospect of an entire season being played out in empty stadia isn’t a pleasant one.
Supporters desperately miss having the opportunity to see their team play and Gers players themselves are pining for the return of the famous Ibrox atmosphere on matchdays.
Rangers are chasing major silverware this season and it would a real shame if it was finally delivered with no fans there to witness it in person.
