The ways in which football's absence will be deeply felt by fans across Scotland

Football improves our lives in ways we will now be forced to consider, writes Craig Fowler

Across the weekend and into Monday, the whole of Scottish football got the news it didn't want to hear. The season has been postponed and the authorities can't know for certain when it's coming back.

It was significant news, though obviously not as significant as the global pandemic currently sending countries around every corner of the globe into a state of turmoil.

People are scared - as the panic-buying of tinned tomatoes so aptly demonstrates. At this moment in time, it doesn't really matter whether Celtic win nine-in-a-row, Hearts get relegated or Livingston batter their way into a European place. The death toll is rising by the day. We need to stop the spread of the coronavirus and closing down the season for the time being was undoubtedly the right thing to do.

Aberdeen fans celebrating at Ibrox. Picture: SNS

But that doesn't mean the absence of football is completely inconsequential. It can, and will, have a negative impact on the lives of every supporter.

The world was a distressingly horrible place at the best of times, but that feeling has been heightened significantly in recent years with the political division and nationalistic uncertainty in the UK, combined with the explosion of social media. The nightly news or a newspaper used to be the only places where one would digest the current lay of the land, both of which were fairly easy to ignore if little interest was held. Now all the horror of the outside world comes straight into our mobile phones which, oh yeah, the world's population has a serious addiction to.

Football was one of the better things on social media, as difficult as that may be to comprehend for any supporter who's been thoroughly lambasted for the team they follow or a certain benign opinion they may have expressed. Deep down we know it doesn't actually matter on an existential level, and therefore it's healthier to get completely caught up in those kind of squabbles rather than it is trying to convince a politically-ideological opponent that their view of how the world should operate will one day kill us all.

Then there's the great goals, incredible pieces of skill and daft memes that populate our news feeds on a daily basis. For football supporters this has the same impact that cat videos have on the rest of the planet. It gives a tiny shot of serotonin that makes the day just that little bit more bearable.

And that's just online. How about the way in which football gives structure to the lives of millions? It's something to look forward to in order to plow through the mundanity of work. For many it's the highlight of the week. It's an excuse for friends to get together, catch up and enjoy each other's company. It's a way for children and grandchildren to stay connected to their elders.

Then there are those who don't have anyone in their lives they can truly connect with. Football - whether it's being in a crowded bar, on a supporter's bus, or inside the stadium with fellow like-minded people - gives them that sense of belonging.

We're far too negative about the impact football has on this country. Some of it isn't without merit. The sectarian divide, particularly in Glasgow, is undoubtedly fueled by the extreme tribalism that belongs on both halves of the Old Firm. There's crowd trouble in stadiums, violence in and around games; it's hard to imagine a big fixture without a heavy police presence and at least a handful of arrests across the day. There's also the unbalanced who take it all far too seriously, a characteristic that too has become more prevalent in the social media age.

But we forget the good that football does to bring football together and let us all ignore our troubles for a few hours. It's a form of escapism we've all become accustomed to and depended on. A well-earned three points can lift spirits tremendously or, if the team is rotten, at least gives provides an outlet for anger and dissatisfaction. Even in the close season, the transfer window can provide a lot of the above, as there's nothing more exciting than bringing in a new player, especially if he's foreign and wears a headband.

All of this necessary distraction is now gone and we can't be certain when it's coming back. The very thing we could really have used football to divert attention away from has taken the sport away from us instead.

It's not trivial. Life is worse without football.