No plans to cancel Old Firm game says Nicola Sturgeon

There are no plans to cancel the upcoming Old Firm match, Nicola Sturgeon has said, but she warned against house parties after pubs were forced to close.

Celtic and Rangers are due to face each other at Parkhead on October 17 but new restrictions on the central belt mean fans will not be able to watch the game in pubs.

On Wednesday, Nicola Sturgeon announced the closure of all licensed premises in the central belt from Friday at 6pm for 16 days.

Outside of the central belt, licensed premises will be barred from selling alcohol and only able to open between 6am and 6pm.

When asked if the game should be cancelled, the First Minister said: It wouldn't be my decision whether the Old Firm game is cancelled or not, I certainly have had no discussion about cancelling the Old Firm game.

"I would like football ... to go ahead, because it's good that folk who can't be in the pub and can't be having house parties can at least watch their football team on the telly.

"I want these things to go ahead and there's certainly no plans as far as I'm aware to cancel the Old Firm match.''

The First Minister went on to say that she "can't babysit'' the entire country, appealing to the "sense of individual responsibility'' of Scots to ensure they act responsibly.

Ms Sturgeon also urged fans not to host or go to gatherings in people's homes to watch the game, something which pub bosses in the central belt have warned against.

She said: "Please don't have a house party just because you can't go to the pub.

"We're all having to live with really difficult restrictions right now to keep each other safe and to try and avoid people becoming ill and dying.

"We're all having to make sacrifices right now - they're horrible, they get more horrible with every day that passes - but don't forget why.

"Because if we don't make these sacrifices right now, more people will get Covid, more people will get ill from it and more people will die.''

Ms Sturgeon was also asked about an incident which appeared on social media on Thursday evening, with a group of Scotland football fans gathering outside a pub in Glasgow to watch the final moments of a penalty shootout between the national team and Israel.

The game, which went to extra time and an eventual penalty shootout, continued past the 10pm curfew imposed by the Scottish Government on hospitality.

Addressing the video, the First Minister said "it shouldn't have happened''.

She added: "No, it shouldn't have happened, of course it's slightly less risky if people are outside than inside, but you shouldn't be in crowded places.

"I can't be everywhere, even the police can't be everywhere - we have to rely on people's personal responsibility to some extent here.''

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