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Scottish Premiership | Gameweek 31
Mar 15, 2020 at 12pm UK
 
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Scottish sporting events set to be hit by coronavirus after Old Firm derby

Scottish sporting events set to be hit by coronavirus after Old Firm derby
© Reuters
Nicola Sturgeon tells Scottish Parliament gatherings of more than 500 people should be postponed from Monday.

A number of Scottish sporting events are set to be postponed or played behind closed doors following an announcement by Nicola Sturgeon.

The First Minister told the Scottish Parliament she would recommend the cancellation of gatherings of more than 500 people from Monday.

The decision is set to come into force the day after Rangers host Celtic in one of this weekend's Ladbrokes Premiership fixtures, with the champions currently 13 points clear of their rivals.

Celtic v Rangers – Ladbrokes Scottish Premiership – Celtic Park
The Rangers v Celtic meeting at Ibrox on Sunday is set to be played the day before the recommendation to postpone sporting events in Scotland applies (PA)

It also looks likely to affect Scotland's Nations League play-off against Israel on March 26. A 50,000 sell-out crowd had been expected at Hampden.

Speaking ahead of a Cobra meeting with other UK leaders, Sturgeon said: "Mass gatherings are required to be policed, they require to have emergency ambulance cover, they require the services of our voluntary health services, and at a time when we need to be reducing the pressures on these front-line workers in order to free them up on the significant challenge that lies ahead, I do think it is inappropriate that we continue as normal."

The Scottish football authorities this week urged clubs to check whether their insurance policies cover lost gate receipts.

Daily meetings have been held at Hampden over the health crisis
Daily meetings have been held at Hampden over the health crisis (PA)

And the Scottish Professional Football League warned on Wednesday it had no cash reserves to help out struggling clubs.

A spokesperson said: "We have already made clear publicly and to the Scottish Government that there will be dire financial consequences for our clubs if matches are played behind closed doors or cancelled.

"We have written to all clubs advising them to examine their insurance arrangements in case of matches being affected. This is particularly important as the SPFL does not hold reserves. Every single penny of income from sponsorships, broadcast deals and cup revenue is already paid to the clubs as fees."

Meanwhile, Celtic captain Scott Brown insists the leaders should be crowned champions if coronavirus measures ultimately forced the Premiership season to be abandoned.

Scott Brown wants to get his hands on the Premiership trophy again
Scott Brown wants to get his hands on the Premiership trophy again (Jane Barlow/PA)

Brown's side are looking to tie up a record-equalling ninth consecutive title.

The midfielder said: "If it ends, it stays at it is. We are in a good position but we just need to focus on this game on Sunday.

"The main thing is we make sure everyone is OK, they are all safe and we try and catch this on the head as soon as we can.  But obviously we still want to play football and win as many games as we can whether it's in front of fans or not.

"It will be sad if there's no fans there because that's what football is all about. It would be weird playing behind closed doors but if it gets the league done and dusted and we managed to keep up with the fixtures as well, it helps everybody."

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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
Championship Group
1Celtic000080265478
2RangersRangers000072234975
3Hearts000046341262
4Kilmarnock00004334951
5St Mirren00003843-543
6Dundee00004454-1041
Relegation Group
1Hibernian00004451-739
2Motherwell00004651-537
3Aberdeen00003549-1435
4St Johnstone00002446-2231
5Ross County00003256-2430
6Livingston00002259-3718
 
First Phase
1Celtic33246380265478
2RangersRangers33243672234975
3Hearts33195946341262
4Kilmarnock33131284334951
5St Mirren33127143843-543
6Dundee331011124454-1041
7Hibernian33912124451-739
8Motherwell33813124651-537
9Aberdeen33811143549-1435
10St Johnstone33710162446-2231
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