Ex-Fifa official: Celtic and Rangers should demand Government explanation after confirmed news
Keith Hackett has played down fears of fans gathering outside of stadiums if attendances at Celtic and Rangers games continue to be limited after the winter break.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League official insisted his “main worry” was who decided the capacity limit of 500 and why clubs were not consulted by the Scottish government.
Only 500 fans were allowed inside MacDairmad Park as Celtic beat St. Johnstone 3-1 yesterday (26 December) but a number of fans gathered on a hill near the ground to watch the action.
BBC Sport reported on Thursday (23 December) the SPFL are hopeful of welcoming capacity crowds back in January as the winter break was brought forward.
Hackett told Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley: “First of all, my main worry would be who are the fans that make up the 500?
“If I’m a home fan and I’ve got a season ticket and I’m not selected, who selects? There is a high risk of fans being unhappy that their fellow fans are being selected and they are not. 500 is not a lot.
“While covid is strife, would it have been better just to have a complete stadium ban? I wonder who has agreed the 500? It’s like they’ve pulled a number completely out of thin air.
“The difficulty for the club is all the season ticket holders, food, catering and all that goes with it.
“It’s an arbitrary figure. Why don’t they look at the stadium and say ‘What is a justifiable number?’
“With Celtic and Rangers who have big, modern stadiums, 500 is nothing. On a normal day they’d have that many staff working there.
“Covid is a serious issue, that’s for sure. I think the Scottish FA and the league have every right to ask who came up with the 500 figure and how they can justify it.
“I just feel when any sort of decision of that nature is made in any sort of sport the government needs to have a discussion before the decision is made. Then there is a consensus.”
In other news, there has been a significant update on Rangers and Celtic’s race to sign a player as a decision is made.