Football matches limited to 500 people from Boxing Day
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has made the announcement in an attempt to control the Omicron variant
Last updated 21st Dec 2021
Football matches will be limited to only 500 people from Boxing Day as new restrictions come in to control the Omicron variant.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has made the announcement and says grounds will be "effectively supporter free" for up to three weeks.
One metre physical distancing will also be required.
There is a full Premiership fixture card on Boxing Day with Celtic travelling away to St Johnstone in the early fixture with Rangers hosting St Mirren at Ibrox.
All top flight clubs will play again on 29th January with an Old Firm derby and an Edinburgh derby following a few days later.
Very small crowds will be in attendance for all fixtures if fans are given access to grounds.
Sturgeon said: "From December 26 inclusive, for a period of up to three weeks, we intend to place limits on the size of live public events."
Indoor standing events will be limited to 100 spectators, indoor seated events to 200, and outdoor events to 500 people with physical distancing of one metre in place.
"This will of course make sports matches, including football, effectively spectator-free over this three-week period, a situation similar to that in Wales from Boxing Day," the First Minister added.
Sturgeon explained the rationale behind the new limits.
"Firstly we know that the much higher transmissibility of Omicron means large gatherings have the potential to become very rapid super-spreader events, putting large numbers at risk of getting infected very quickly," she said.
"Limiting these events helps reduce the risk of widespread transmission. It also cuts down the transmission risks associated with travel to and from these events.
"And second, and this is not an insignificant point, these large events put an additional burden on emergency services, especially the police and ambulance services.
"At a time when these services are already under severe pressure and also dealing with high staff absences, limiting large-scale events will help them focus in delivering essential services to the public."