A report from a leading Scottish newspaper is claiming that fans could be back into grounds in Scotland by next Friday night (06/11/20).
However due to rising coronavirus cases across the Central Belt and Glasgow, Rangers fans are unlikely to benefit despite being at home to Hamilton over that weekend.
The Daily Record claim that Scottish football’s most important figures are in discussions with the Scottish Government this week about the return of supporters outside of the nation’s Central Belt.
The news comes after the announcement of a new five-tier lockdown system with the report claiming “hopes are rising” about the potential return.
At present, the report suggests current plans mean fans would be locked out of grounds unless they are in an area which was in tier 0 or tier 1 of the new lockdown protocols.
A source close to the Daily Record has expressed frustration about this given cinemas and other indoor areas would be allowed to open on tier 2 of the new regulations.
Whatever the case regarding the return of fans to stadiums, Scottish football across the Central Belt will continue to suffer from a rising number of Covid-19 cases.
These discussions concern grounds outside of this area but there remains a hesitancy from the government to see supporters return, something numerous sources express disappointment with in the Daily Record story.
Under the proposals – due to come into place from November 2nd – Nicola Sturgeon has announced that Glasgow will be provisionally placed into tier 3 of the new restrictions [Daily Record] meaning Rangers fans would not be able to attend matches.
Everyone is wishing for the safe return of supporters sooner rather than later but there is little doubt that the return of fans by next Friday appears ambitious at best.
Whilst Covid-19 continues to be a massive issue for football and society in Scotland – is it time we got used to the idea we might not see the inside of Ibrox in 2020?