Key SFA/SPFL meeting to determine when Hearts can return to training at Riccarton

Joint Reponse Group to speak with clubs on Friday

Hearts officials are awaiting the go-ahead to resume training.

Hearts hope to get permission to resume training during a key meeting with Scottish football’s Joint Response Group on Friday afternoon.

Officials from the Scottish Football Association and Scottish Professional Football League will hold Zoom calls with Championship, League One and League Two clubs to discuss the planned return to training from Monday, August 24.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has given the go-ahead for contact sports to return next week and the SFA/SPFL Joint Response Group will make a final check on clubs’ safety provisions tomorrow.

Hearts have everything in place to get back to work at Riccarton first thing on Monday morning and are confident these will receive full approval from the authorities.

The Edinburgh club were outraged at being ordered to stop training last Thursday, August 13, following breach of agreed lockdown restrictions by Aberdeen and Celtic players.

The SFA and SPFL chose to “pause” training for all teams outwith the Premiership to reinforce rules and check safety measures – despite the guilty parties being top-flight players.

The First Minister issued what she called a “yellow card” to all of Scottish football over the breaches and threatened that next time would be red, meaning the suspension of football at all levels.

A series of strict protocols must be adhered to for any team to begin sessions again and Hearts are eager to get restarted. Several clubs across the Championship, League One and League Two are also intending to start their pre-season schedule.

Amongst other measures, players and staff must watch a video explaining all the restrictions on them from Scotland’s national clinical director, Jason Leitch. The Hearts squad are scheduled to do that in separate groups tomorrow.

During First Minister’s Questions at Holyrood this afternoon, Sturgeon confirmed that all sports will be able to return from next week provided the relevant authorities agree.

She said: “Organised outdoor contact sports will resume for people of all ages, but outdoor coaching sessions will have a cap of 30 on the total number of people who can be coached at any one time.”

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