Jason Leitch warns not to expect imminent return of fans at matches

Peter Lawwell’s plea set to go unheeded

National Clinical Director, Professor Jason Leitch.

Scottish fans have had hopes of an accelerated return to football grounds dashed, with the national clinical director Jason Leitch warning that the stringent rules regarding spectators at live sports events are likely to remain in place until October.

News that test events are set to be staged in England from 1 August, with reduced crowds being admitted from October, had heightened anticipation that a similar pilot scheme could be attempted when the Premiership sides return to action in a couple of weeks’ time.

Celtic have already spoken out in favour, with chief executive Peter Lawwell warning that the Scottish game is in danger of being “left behind” as leagues reopen around the globe. But Professor Jason Leitch said that although “everything is pointing in a good direction”, SPFL sides should press ahead behind closed doors, insisting there has not been a weakening of the Scottish Government’s stance regarding fans’ access to stadia.

“We’ve not set a date,” he said. “We’re very hopeful that in the autumn sometime we will be able to run some test events and then get crowds back.”

The first Old Firm game of the new season is on 17 October, and Lawwell believes that it would be safe to admit supporters long before then, saying there should now be a “phased return of spectators”.

“We want to do that. And if the numbers [of infections] stay the way they are, that’s the best way of getting there,” responded Leitch, while speaking on BBC Scotland yesterday.

“If the pubs opening doesn’t give us big numbers, then crowds are much more likely than less likely.”