Jason Leitch: SPFL and SFA stopped Hearts training - not Scottish Government

National clinical director expected Riccarton sessions to go on

Jason Leitch says the Scottish Government did not stop Hearts training.

Scotland’s national clinical director Jason Leitch has insisted the Government did not tell Hearts to stop training – and admitted he thought the club would be fine to continue sessions.

The Edinburgh club are outraged after being ordered to stop training by the Scottish FA and Scottish Professional Football League Joint Response Group.

A statment from the JRG claimed they were outlining “a wide range of measures agreed with the Scottish Government to reinforce Scottish football’s commitment to public health and adherence to protocols”.

It added that “these measures have been approved by the JRG and follow extensive discussions with Scottish Government Ministers and health advisers”.

The statment confirmed that all teams outwith the Scottish Premiership must stop training until at least August 24 after coronavirus guidelines were ignored by Aberdeen and Celtic players.

However, Leitch is adamant that the decision was made by the SFA and SPFL – not the Scottish Government. He said he believed Hearts would be able to continue training after resuming sessions safely two weeks ago.

Speaking on BBC Radio Scotland, Leitch said: “I've just read the SPFL's news release before I came on. These are matters for the SPFL. We didn't tell them what to do.

“We told them to reassure us that everything is in place that is necessary. My understanding of what the SPFL have said is no new clubs to start training until the 24th.

“Hearts were already training because of the court case and the Premiership and the possibility they were up. My understanding was that they wouldn't have to stop training, but you guys maybe know more than me.

“Look, here is my job, I am national clinical director, I am dealing with oil and gas, I am dealing with the health service, small retail premises along with all my colleagues. And we are trying to help with elite sport.

“We – I think rightly – said to the SPFL: ‘You have to get your house in order. We want you to tell us how you are going to do that.’

“We suggested there were two big categories of stuff they can do. One is enforcement. And we suggested some level of education.

“The SPFL has then chosen the bullet point list of things to do, irrespective of what the government has said. I am not trying to deflect that, but that is their choices.

“The SPFL have decided with the joint response group to make those decisions today. It wasn't a government decision and neither should it be.”

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