Full crowds expected at football games from next week
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is set to announce that mass crowds can attend sporting events from the start of next week, in time for the return of Premiership football.
Last updated 11th Jan 2022
MFR understands the First Minister will approve the re-introduction of capacity stadiums when she addresses parliament this afternoon after three weeks of limiting crowds to 500 people.
It means all Premiership fixtures can expect masses of supporters again, starting with Celtic vs Hibernian on Monday 17th January.
Supporters will need to be fully vaccinated to get into games.
That includes a booster, if the second jab was given more than four months ago.
Due to the spread of Omicron and rising COVID cases across the country, all large events were limited to 500 fans from Boxing Day.
This prompted top-flight teams to bring forward their winter break to the 27th of December, having originally been scheduled to begin on January 4th, in the hope that fans could attend when the break ends.
The lower leagues have continued playing throughout with attendances limited to 500 but they too can now sell out to full capacity.
SPFL Chief Executive Neil Doncaster had previously said that the reduced crowds were a “hammer blow” but the governing bodies, clubs and fans alike will be satisfied with the news and justified in their decision to bring the winter break forward.
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