With a return to full capacity crowds being allowed when Scottish football returned last Monday from it’s winter break, the fans were all looking forward to seeing their hero’s come home to Paradise as they pursue their hunt for the league title.
But the reopening of football stadia came with a caveat from the Scottish Government where all venues with more than 1,000 people in attendance had to have 50% of attendees COVID status checked.
With Celtic Park holding 60,000 this presented not only a logistical nightmare for the club but also a headache for the fans as early arrival to the stadium was recommended to ensure that there was no delay in getting the supporters into the game on time.
There was hope that this restriction would be lifted sooner but a recent update by Stephen McGowan in The Daily Mail has scuppered those hopes as he shared the recent communication from the Scottish Government.
The existing rules have been relaxed but not enough as Celtic brace themselves for a further few weeks of COVID checks, “Please be advised that the capacity limits under which the COVID Certification Scheme applies are 4,000 standing and 10,000 seated.
“For venues with a mix of seating and standing, the 4,000-capacity figure should be used.
“Spectators attending matches at these expected capacities are required to evidence they meet the COVID vaccine requirements or have recently produced a negative lateral flow test result.
“Club should aim to test 50% of those in attendance.”
With the Hoops facing five fixtures in as little as EIGHTEEN days, it seems that this necessary inconvenience is set to stay with the Celtic support for the foreseeable future.
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