I HEARTILY agree with Aidan Smith that Aberdeen FC are very fortunate not to have incurred a more stringent penalty than a row from the First Minister and a finger-wagging from the SPFL and SFA (Aberdeen right to be relieved ... they should have forfeited the game, August 8).
Aberdeen club chairman Dave Cormack has intimated that the eight players who acted so irresponsibly following their defeat to Rangers may be subject to a fine, but I fear that their actions have far wider implications for the Scottish game and for Aberdeen Football Club.
READ MORE: Steven Gerrard's Covid reminder to Rangers squad after Aberdeen rule breaks
The actions of the players have certainly raised questions about the culture of the club and of its leadership at all levels. Their utter lack of professionalism and consideration for the fans, their employers and their own reputation is quite staggering, not to mention their disdain for the new social practices required.
As Mr Smith noted, we have waited a long time to witness the resumption of the professional game in Scotland and foolish actions like these could throw away months of planning and preparation. Our footballing authorities should have sent out a stronger message to players and clubs by awarding the three points from the scheduled game to St Johnstone. It is a tad unrealistic to assume the Aberdeen chairman would adopt the moral high ground and do this of his own volition – I doubt that anyone in charge of a club would do this due to a number of financial and social considerations.
Let’s not get to the point in our national game where the First Minister has to highlight failings and be forced to take action that would be necessary but highly unpopular with fans and clubs alike. Scotland’s professional football bodies must be proactive and take responsibility for the actions of individuals and teams under their wing, particularly at this unprecedented juncture in our history.
Owen Kelly
Stirling
RECENT increases in infection rates are mainly from people aged under 40, with the peak infection among those in their twenties. This is correlated to pubs opening.
Obviously there are two issues. The first is that this group is less self-disciplined to care for each of us and themselves. A selfish desire to ignore it all and socialise even when they can see a pub is busy? Their actions muck it up for all of us.
They endanger their friends, family and the care services. They by their actions cause lockdowns and damage the economy.
READ MORE: Douglas Ross left red-faced over call for army testing sites in Aberdeen
Many pubs are not logging each person as they enter, so tracing and reducing infection spread is impossible. Their inability to adhere to advice means it is now going to be a statutory requirement. Why are pubs different from shops and supermarkets? Why can’t pubs restrict numbers entering? The council licensing authority should visit each licenced premise and fix a maximum customer limit.
It is a sad fact of life that the minority muck it up for the majority. Where is the compassion and care for our fellow citizens? Shameful and annoying.
Robert Anderson
Dunning
WHERE is the enforcement for Covid-19? Those in Aberdeen are now paying the price for people and/or premises not following guidelines.
I know our local pubs have been rammed and not taking people’s details. I walk past hairdressers and salons, only one of which was equipped and another half dozen with nothing!
Again in mainly smaller shops I don’t see anyone wearing masks, and in big stores you’re going to come across more than a handful with their nose sticking over the
top of a mask. I even saw a guy wearing a mask, but only covering his chin for the entire time he was in the store!!!
It just takes one person to have it, and then it’s 20+ and growing. Then we’re back to local lockdown.
Kenneth Sutherland
Livingston
IF Scottish Labour’s deputy leader wants to do some good for Aberdeen, please put the
kibosh on the Aberdeen Labour councillors. They are still “better together” with the Conservatives so that the Tories can dictate to Aberdonians who never voted them in.
Then maybe we can take down the Union flag that flies persistently from the Townhouse and replace it with the flag of this country.
Kenny Burnett
Aberdeen
OUR First Minister has done a superb job of handling Covid, but in years to come might be best remembered as the person who liberated us from the horror of background music in restaurants.
Malcolm Parkin
Kinross
ECONOMIC recovery from both Covid-19 and the pain of Brexit now looks to be extremely difficult across the whole of the UK, especially with the current UK Government approaches being largely limited to corporate quantitative easing (QE) stimulus, existing and future over-reliance upon the devaluation of the GBP, and reductions in standards, rights and regulation.
One of the main alternative QE approaches would be to largely apply QE substantively and persistently, via the individual citizen, and retain and enhance standards, rights, and regulations as appropriate. Such a radically different approach across Scotland would require independence, enabling both full fiscal autonomy and a de-Brexit.
It must be made crystal clear to the people of Scotland that should a majority vote for pro-indy Scottish Parliament seeking a sustainable economic recovery, then there will have to be either a Section 30-based indyref2, else a UDI indyref2, organised for 2021.
Stephen Tingle
Greater Glasgow
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