Aberdeen chairman Dave Cormack is not giving up in his bid to have fans return to Pittodrie as soon as possible. Last week the Scottish Government rejected a request from the Dons to host test events against Ross County, St Johnstone and Dundee United.
Now Cormack wants to know why the event was rejected. He has the backing of SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster on the matter.
Cormack released a statement to the Aberdeen website responding to the latest test events being rejected.
“Fans are being treated unfairly”
“It’s now very clear that Scottish football and its fans are being treated unfairly with the rejection correspondence, once again, avoiding answering the key question as to why indoor events in Level 2, with less regulation, are being favoured over the stringent, safe and highly regulated protocols we have in place at our stadium” Cormack said.
Aberdeen chairman Dave Cormack (Photo by Craig Foy / SNS Group via Getty Images)
The Aberdeen chief went on to state that he has had requests for meetings continuously ignored by the Scottish Government. He feels that clubs and fans should be told why the Government won’t allow fans into the majority of Scottish football stadiums.
“Jason Leitch himself told the SPFL and Premiership Clubs that outdoor activities were safer than indoor activities. Yet our successful, safe test events with 300 fans now seem pointless if there is no progression plan in place, even in Level 1. We have repeatedly asked for clarification and meetings with him and Ministers, yet our requests continue to be ignored. Surely, clubs and our fans are due an explanation as to why they’ve done a U-turn” he went on.
SPFL chief supports statement
Cormack’s comments were supported by SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster. Doncaster believes that fans should be able to return to stadiums under controlled circumstances.
SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster (Photo by Ross Parker / SNS Group / Getty Images)
“Clubs all over the country have similarly detailed plans in place to allow fans back safely and are increasingly bemused, frustrated and angry at the Scottish Government’s stance. Fans should gradually be allowed back under very controlled circumstances” he said in a statement (Daily Record).