New Covid rules introduced in Scotland could spark chaos in the SPFL with clubs facing the threat of the Omicron variant decimating their squad due to isolation rules.
After First Minister Nicola Sturgeon spoke to the nation yesterday, clubs have been warned that a single positive test could see players having to isolate for ten days.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Health Secretary Humza Yousaf (Photo by Fraser Bremner – Pool/Getty Images)
The new rules see any ‘household contact’ forced to isolate for ten days if someone else in their home test positive – and the Sun report that clubs have been told that if one player on a team bus tests positive then every passenger will have to isolate regardless of their vaccine status.
The Scottish FA and SPFL Joint Response Group have also warned Premiership clubs planning winter trips away next month that a single positive test on a plane will see the entire passenger list forced into isolation.
The JRG have also encouraged clubs to keep players within their ‘bubble’ as much as possible and limit their interactions with people from outside the club.
Some clubs have been using multiple buses to travel to games this season, while others have encouraged players to make their own way to fixtures – and the latest rules are likely to see more and more clubs advising players to travel individually.
Clubs are also concerned that the new restrictions could hit attendances going into one of the most important spells of games for clubs financially, with Sturgeon refusing to confirm whether there would be new restrcitions on supporters being allowed access to grounds, saying: “I’m not going to tell you what Cabinet might consider on Tuesday because I don’t know yet.
“This will depend on the continuing analysis of the data.
“There’s a doubling time of two days. Tuesday is a long time away and we’ll be monitoring the data every day between now and then.”
NTOF now offers a YouTube channel featuring exclusive interviews, post-match discussion, in-depth debate, and much more – LIKE and SUBSCRIBE and don’t miss any of our videos.