In potentially a historic first for Scottish football, all 20 clubs in Leagues 1 and 2 of the SPFL have come together to create “A Route to Playing Again”.
This document presents a way to restart and safely conclude their 2020/21 season, which was paused on 11 January due to concerns about travel-related COVID-19.
Explaining the rationale behind the document, which has gone to the Scottish FA, a spokesman for the clubs said:
“We are all aware of the ongoing impact of the pandemic on everyone’s lives. We take our responsibilities to our staff and players seriously and that’s why we have complied with all that has been asked of us to date.
“However, we have used the pause in playing to look at what more we can do to create a route to us playing again in a way that reassures the football authorities and the Scottish Government.
“We know that football can be a force for good and that our games allow our fans to have one familiar activity available to them at a difficult time. But we also recognise that we need to do more if we want to restart and this proposal lays out what that might look like including the introduction of PCR testing.
“We understand the difficult position the Scottish FA found itself in when it suspended our leagues. But there will have to be a decision made about when we restart. So we wanted to support and assist in the decision-making process.
“This document shows that, in coming together with common purpose, 20 clubs are committed to this process and hope that the SFA will treat this proposal with the consideration it deserves.”
