SUNDAY’S Old Firm match is so important, it seems, that a minor piffling matter like a global pandemic won’t even stand in its way. Real Madrid’s superstars have been sent home for 15 days to self-isolate. The English Premier League, La Liga, the Champions League and the Europa League are all set to be suspended. Flights into the USA from the EU are banned. Italy is in lockdown. In Scotland? Well, fitba comes first. Who needs the WHO when we’ve got the SPFL?

Ibrox never did get its super-casino, but it does benefit - it seems - from a handy knack of being immune to highly contagious diseases. So, the 50,000 or so who crammed into the stadium last night – with 3000 or so travelling Germans, astonishingly - surely weren’t gambling with their health. Nor the 50,000 or so who are scheduled to pile back into the ground together on Sunday for the Old Firm game.

The players won’t be allowed to shake hands, of course, but it’s alright for Joe Public to hug perfect strangers, as sometimes happens involuntarily when your team sticks one in the pokey.

Nicola Sturgeon outlined the Scottish government’s advice yesterday as they try to contain the spread of coronavirus, urging the cancellation of all gatherings of 500 people or more from Monday. There is no truth in the cruel rumour that Hamilton Accies home matches will proceed as planned.

Now, I am not suggesting that the First Minister had the Old Firm game in mind when she gave this advice. As much as it can often seem as if the fitba is the centre of the universe in this country, there are some matters which supersede even our national obsession. Football is not actually a matter of life and death, and the wellbeing of the population has to come first.

That’s why it would be nice to see a bit of leadership from the SFA and the SPFL here. Take the bull by the horns and make the call that, at the very least, the match on Sunday should be played behind closed doors.

I have faith, hopefully not misplaced, they will make the common-sense call. The governing bodies of our sport don’t exactly enjoy a reputation among supporters for decisive action, but there are enough savvy people now in positions of influence within these organisations that I would be astonished if fixtures continue without disruption.

These decisions can’t be made lightly. Nobody wants to see Rangers against Celtic, one of the fiercest derbies in world football, played out to the backdrop of empty seats. That’s why I would advocate for the postponement of matches for a short period before shutting fans out, but that comes with its own issues, particularly for smaller clubs who rely on gate revenue.

The SPFL have already said there is no reserve pot of money to help these clubs with short-term cashflow issues from postponements, and the Scottish league is more reliant on cash at the gates than most other leagues. Two years ago, the UEFA benchmark report stated that 43 percent of revenue in the SPFL comes from punters buying tickets.

So, the reluctance to place clubs into possible financial peril is understandable, but in the face of the action being taken by almost every other major league on the continent, inaction here begins to look hugely irresponsible rather than a show of prudence.

Like the thousands of people currently espousing on the subject on social media, I am no health expert, but if the SPFL and SFA are indeed listening to advice from the real experts as they have said, then they have to take action now. The coronavirus spreads quickly. There are 60 confirmed cases in Scotland as I write, which may seem like a small amount, but that is an increase of a third in just one day. By the time you read this, that number will be much higher.

It is regrettable with so much to look forward to over the next couple of months that we may see games postponed or cancelled. Scotland have sold out Hampden for the Euro 2020 play-off against Israel later this month, and that tournament itself may not even go ahead.

As difficult as it may be for fans and for clubs though, placing the health of supporters in jeopardy can’t possibly be a feasible course of action. It gives me no pleasure to say it, but the football can wait.

AND ANOTHER THING…

What a piece of business by Motherwell to get David Turnbull to put pen to paper on another extended deal, tying the youngster to the club until the summer of 2022.

The reality is he probably won’t see that contract out, presuming his recovery from last summer’s knee injury continues and he gets back to the sort of form that lit up the Premiership last season.

There will be suitors again even this summer if he does get back to that form, and Celtic are bound to be among them after their £3m move for the midfielder collapsed at the eleventh-hour last year.

So, the decision by Turnbull to sign a new deal will likely be one that protects Motherwell, making sure they still get full value for their prized asset when the time does come for him to move on.

Over and above the fact that the lad is a Motherwell supporter, for him to do so is perhaps a thank you as well to the club for the work they have put in with him to nurse him back to full health, and the support they gave him when he must have been at a low ebb when that move to Celtic fell apart.

Fair play to him for that gesture, and fair play to the Fir Park club for securing that signature.