MX23RW : Friday, April 26 01:36:41| >> :120:18527:18527:

Hearts captain Steven Naismith against staging games behind closed doors

An immediate suspension with all games postponed until "further notice" was announced on Friday.

Hearts captain Steven Naismith dismissed the notion of behind closed-doors games as he looks for football to return when the coronavirus outbreak runs its course.

The Scottish Football Association and Scottish Professional Football League's
joint response group announced on Friday an immediate suspension with all games postponed until "further notice".

All games in England's Premier League, Football League, FA Women's Super League and Women's Championship are postponed while matches in Wales and Northern Ireland have been called off.

Recent matches in Italy, Germany and France have been played without fans in attendance as the virus wreaks increasing havoc around the sporting world but that is not an idea which finds favour with the Jambos attacker.

He told Hearts' official website: "It's not right not to have fans there cheering on their team. Fans have paid their money so there's the whole financial aspect of it.

"At the moment, in general, everybody's personal agendas have to be put aside for what's best for the whole country and the whole world in this pandemic.

"The right measures are now being taken. This process will go on for as long as it needs to go on until everything's cleared.

"I don't think there can be any short-term measures here. It is a very serious situation.

"We can play football when everybody's moved on beyond this virus and get back to enjoying that.

"Britain in general has kind of been the last ones to make that call but the biggest thing here is health and safety. That's paramount.

"Football is about the fans. To compromise on any health issues or closed door games goes against what we all love this game for.

"Overall, it is the right decision and us as a club will follow what the guidelines are from now on in to be ready for the next game, whenever that may be."

While no one knows when Scottish football will resume Naismith insists the Jambos squad will be ready when called upon again.

The Scotland international said: "You don't want to be caught cold when it comes back around to training and fixtures.

"The professional levels in the game now are such that people do keep going when there's a period of internationals,  a break or when there's time off.

"Players still get on with their individual programmes and make sure that they're in the fittest state possible."

ID:392808: cacheID:392808:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:3663:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Daniel Stendel pictured in charge of Barnsley in October 2019
Read Next:
Daniel Stendel: 'We lacked fight in St Mirren defeat'
>
Read more about Steven Naismith Football
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
10am
Bublik
Carballes Baena
10am
Marozsan
Cerundolo
10am
Musetti
Seyboth Wild
10am
Paul
Klein
10am
Rublev
Bagnis
10am
Andreeva
Noskova
10am
Bronzetti
Rybakina
10am
Garcia
Wang
10am
Pavlyuchenkova
Saville
11.30am
Altmaier
Fils
11.30am
Martin Etcheverry
Shapovalov
11.30am
Alexandrova
Krueger
11.30am
Bucsa
Kasatkina
11.30am
Dolehide
Kalinina
11.30am
Jimenez Kasintseva
Paolini
11.30am
Linette
Sabalenka
1pm
Baez
Van Assche
1pm
Hurkacz
Draper
1pm
Bejlek
Kalinskaya
1pm
Cristian
Krejcikova
1pm
Kostyuk
Sherif
2pm
Zheng
Putintseva
2.30pm
Humbert
Van De Zandschulp
2.30pm
Darderi
Fritz
2.30pm
Boulter
Montgomery
3pm
Shevchenko
Alcaraz
3.30pm
Vondrousova
Rogers
4pm
Griekspoor
Daniel
4pm
Munar
Struff
5pm
Navone
Rune
7pm
Coric
Zverev
8.30pm
Collins
Danilovic
11.30am
Shang
Davidovich Fokina
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
11Ross County3379173256-2430
12Livingston3339212259-3718


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!