CELTIC’S Premiership match against Steven Gerrard’s Ibrox Newco side looks like going ahead WITHOUT fans at Parkhead.
The Hoops are due to host their Glasgow rivals on Saturday, October 17 and it is odds-on to played at an empty stadium due to coronavirus pandemic rising numbers, according to a report in the Scottish Sun..
It had been hoped Scottish Government guidelines would be releaxed to allow in home supporters for the occasion, but that now looks increasingly unlikely.
Today’s announcement by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon appears to have vetoed any hopes of a limited number of Hoops followers to watch the action.
Pushing back the phased return of fans for a minimum of three weeks from Monday September 14, supporters could still get the green light to return to venues from Monday October 5.
However, that would be determined by a best-case scenario on the recent upsurge of cases – and the proviso that this weekend’s test events at Aberdeen v Kilmarnock and Ross County v Celtic are successful. Attendances of 300 will be permitted to each encounter.
However, in practice, it seems almost impossible that Ms Sturgeon would give the go-ahead to the clash in the east end of Glasgow.
Immediately after October 5 is the international break, with Scotland due to play Israel in the Euro 2020/21 play-off at Hampden.
It is a return to league duty the following weekend, but the Holyrood chief insisted that any future test events would be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Given the inbuilt risks of having any number of supporters along to such an incendiary fixture, it would seem extremely unlikely a match between the city foes would be considered for inclusion as a test event.
