The wait is over for Scotland football fiends

Article posted by Coliseum, April 16^th, 2021

Image: Celtic FC

Football fiends in Scotland could be back to the stadia folds before the end of the current season.

‘The Scottish Sun’ stated that the majority of fans have been locked out of grounds since the 2019-20 campaign was brought to an early end due to the global outbreak of the coronavirus curse in March 2020.

Barring a lucky number of people in the North and North-East of the country, most supporters have been left waiting with bated breath as to when they will be back to the stadia fold.

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‘The Scottish Sun’ further stated that it seems the wait will finally be over for the football buffs as the Scottish Government have now confirmed on their website that 500 fans could be allowed back inside venues from May 17^th, subject to physical distancing conditions being met and advice being followed.

That would involve supporters sitting at a distance of two meters apart from each other, unless they are from the same household or a carer and the person they are assisting.

Higher capacities in arenas can be agreed through the relevant club’s local authority or through the Scottish Government.

May 17^th is the date when Scotland’s ongoing COVID-19 restrictions are due to drop down to Level 2 in the tier system. And this news would be music to the ears for clubs involved in the Premiership, Championship and League One play-off finals.

The Scottish Premiership is the top division of the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL), the league competition for men’s professional football clubs in Scotland. The Scottish Premiership was established in July 2013, after the SPFL was formed by a merger of the Scottish Premier League and Scottish Football League.

The Scottish Championship is the second tier of the Scottish Professional Football League, the league competition for men’s professional football clubs in Scotland. The Scottish Championship was established in July 2013, after the Scottish Professional Football League was formed by a merger of the Scottish Premier League and Scottish Football League.

The Scottish League One is the third tier of the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL), the league competition for men’s professional football clubs in Scotland. The Scottish League One was established in July 2013, after the Scottish Professional Football League was formed by a merger of the Scottish Premier League and Scottish Football League.

The second legs of the Championship and League One ties are due to be played on May 18^th.

While the first leg of the Premiership play-off final has been penciled in for May 19^th – three days after the end of the top-flight campaign. The second leg is slated to take place on May 23rd.

Based on how things currently stand across the SPFL, the Scottish professional football team Kilmarnock F.C. are in line to face one of Raith Rovers F.C., Dundee F.C. or Inverness Caledonian Thistle F.C. in the Premiership play-off final.

Two of Scottish professional football club Greenock Morton F.C., Scottish League One club Cove Rangers F.C., professional football club Partick Thistle F.C., and the Scottish semi-professional football team Montrose F.C. would be involved in the Championship play-off final.

While two clubs out of the semi-professional football club Dumbarton F.C., Scottish League Two football clubs Edinburgh City F.C., Stirling Albion F.C., and the SPFL club Elgin City F.C. would battle it out in the League One play-off final.

Although, the situation is still very tight across all four divisions, with plenty of twists and turns left in the league run-in.

However, no fans will be permitted inside the 51,866-capacity Hampden Park (stadium in Glasgow, Scotland) for the Scottish Cup (an annual association football knock-out cup competition for men’s football clubs in Scotland) final on May 22^nd, as the stadium will already have been handed over to the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA).

UEFA has already confirmed that there will be around 12,000 fans inside Hampden Park for its Euro 2020 matchups in June. The UEFA Euro 2020 showpiece is all set to take place from June 11^th, 2021 to July 11^th, 2021.

It comes after the Scottish Government allowed the facility to have a 25 percent capacity for the soccer spectacle Hampden Park is set to host during the tournament. Scotland will play two of their group games at Hampden Park.

The national side will kick off their opening game against the Czech Republic on June 14^th, before returning to the national stadium to face Croatia on June 22^nd.

‘Foot’ball for thought

The Scottish Football Association wrote to all political parties on April 6^th ahead of the elections in May as to how the game of football has the power to inspire the nation.

The 2021 Scottish Parliament election will be held on May 6^th, 2021 under the provisions of the Scotland Act 1998. All 129 Members of the Scottish Parliament will be elected in the sixth election since the Parliament was re-established in 1999.

‘The Scottish FA’ stated, “We have published our manifesto pledges which present a real opportunity for the next Scottish Government to fuel football’s unique ability to inspire the nation. The Scottish FA strives to make the national sport open to more people, more often and at less cost. We want to reinforce football’s ability to improve lives, connect communities, be a hub for innovation, and a champion of sustainability and green technology.”

“Football delivers more than £1bn of Social Return on Investment and, with unparalleled cultural significance and reach, can become a key enabling partner leveraging Scotland’s image and aspirations regionally, nationally and internationally.”

‘The Scottish FA’ further stated, “We, therefore, ask the next Scottish Government to commit to a partnership approach with the Scottish FA to use the power of football to inspire a healthier Scotland as football reaches millions across Scotland in a variety of ways.”

“The Scottish FA proposes to offer the power and influence of the national game to be at the forefront of a health and wellbeing revolution. This partnership should extend across all Cabinet portfolios and include two-way communication and activation to promote and improve equality and education in all aspects of health and wellbeing.”

The Scottish Football Association (SFA) is the governing body of football in Scotland and has the ultimate responsibility for the control and development of football in Scotland. Members of the SFA include clubs in Scotland, affiliated national associations as well as local associations.

Free football voucher scheme

The SFA wants that the cost barrier should be removed and children should be allowed to enjoy the many benefits of playing football by creating a free football voucher scheme.

Hinging on Hampden Park

The SFA wants that the next Scottish Government support an improvement and modernization program for Hampden Park to become an elite sporting campus and a center for learning excellence, community benefit and technological advancement.

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