THE Scottish Football League Cup Final “could well have been” a super spreader Covid-19 event, Deputy First Minister John Swinney has said.
BBC Scotland Drivetime presenter Nick Sheridan asked Swinney: “Was the Cup Final a super spreader event and why did it go ahead?”
Swinney replied: “It could well be.
“I think it stands to reason that if we have large numbers of people, 50,000 fans travelling towards a sporting event in one particular part of the country, using multiple modes of transport and interacting with each other – there is a very high danger that will be a super spreader event.
READ MORE: Football fans and hospitality firms react to new Covid restrictions
“I regret the fact we didn’t make this decision earlier.”
Sheridan said: “Celtic has requested the SPFL bring forward the winter break – does that sound like a good idea?”
“I think that is a very good idea,” answered Swinney. “I welcome the intervention and I see that other football clubs have been making much the same point.
“I think that is welcome and recognises the contribution that all of us have to make to deal with the situation we face.
“I totally appreciate the frustration and irritation that football fans will feel about all of this.”
Speaking as tighter restrictions were imposed on Scots, including the cancellation of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay event, Mr Swinney also discussed the hospitality sector, which faces returning to table service and possibly a shutdown.
Swinney said: “Quite clearly the physical distancing between groupings is applied in hospitality settings.
“I think it’s pretty clear that’s going to have complications for the operation of the nightclub sector.
“But we’ll engage actively with that sector about what the practical implications.”
Asked if nightclubs may have to close, Swinney said: “That is a possibility.
“We will engage with the sector on the practicalities of implications of changes to rules.”
READ MORE: UK Government adviser praises Nicola Sturgeon's 'moral courage' on new Covid rules
Swinney added: “We’ve had to take some very difficult decisions because of the twist and challenge of omicron variant.
“Cases have risen by 50% in the space of a week.
“We’re putting in place about £375 million to support the business community.
“We will discuss with the sectors, but we have to react to protect public health.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel