Scottish football chiefs set to dish out sanctions for clubs breaking Covid-19 rules

Scottish football’s Joint Response Group are poised to crack down on clubs accused of breaching Covid-19 testing rules.

The move comes after St Mirren pledged to investigate the batch of faulty coronavirus tests which prompted a pre-season lockdown scare and follows letters from the JRG to Rangers, Motherwell and Hibernian seeking clarity over the testing procedures which resulted in cancelled and delayed pre-season games.

Currently the Joint Response Group simply ask clubs to abide by a set of coronavirus advisory guidelines.

St Mirren will probe the faulty coronavirus tests which prompted a pre-season lockdown scare

Following crunch talks with the Scottish Government yesterday, however, Hampden powerbrokers are set to upgrade the guidelines to a set of firm instructions before next weekend’s Premiership kick-off, with potential sanctions for those who fail to comply.Clubs have already been ordered to return to two tests per week for players and staff after question marks over the testing of Rangers players who took part in a game against Dundee United on Wednesday. 

Seven members of St Mirren’s coaching staff also tested positive for Covid-19 on the same day. Following fresh NHS screening, six of the Saints staff have now returned ‘false positives’.

The one remaining coach is in ‘strict isolation’ and has been quarantined since Saturday.

Chief Executive Tony Fitzpatrick said: ‘We have complied robustly with the official testing and hygiene regimen to the letter, using a private testing facility in accordance with the Scottish Government and the SPFL/SFA Joint Response Group protocols.

Seven members of St Mirren’s coaching staff tested positive but six were found to be false

‘Our players were tested on Monday 20th and have returned 100 per cent negative tests on Wednesday, July 22, however test results for seven of the coaching staff undertaken at the same time showed they were positive for Covid-19.

‘We immediately implemented strict isolation protocols and made further arrangements for the coaching staff to be retested at NHS testing facilities on Thursday 23rd.

‘I’m very pleased to report that six of the subsequent coaching staff tests have now come back negative this morning.

‘The remaining member of the coaching staff has confirmed as a positive test result and continues to be in strict isolation and has not come into contact with any member of the playing or coaching staff since Saturday 18th July. The club will continue to support and look after this staff member to ensure a full recovery.

‘We are liaising closely with NHS Scotland, the SPFL and the SFA on next steps. We will also be undertaking an urgent review of the private testing arrangement which returned the initial false positive test results.

Rangers, Motherwell and Hibernian have been asked for clarity over testing procedures

’St Mirren were scheduled to face St Johnstone in a friendly match this afternoon. That game remains cancelled, while the club hope their home Premiership game with Livingston next Saturday can still go ahead.‘In light of recent events the club’s planned friendly match at home to St Johnstone has been cancelled,’ continued Fitzpatrick.

‘Our priority throughout the pandemic has always been the safety and wellbeing of our staff and players, and to ensure we placed public safety at the forefront of our thoughts and actions. This will continue to be the clubs top priority as a safe start to the football season is essential.’

The Joint Response Group has also asked Rangers to explain their testing schedule before Wednesday’s delayed friendly win over Motherwell and whether fringe players who took part in a game against Dundee United earlier in the day received their results in time.

Motherwell have also been the recipients of a letter from the JRG, the Fir Park providing a swift response citing delays caused by the testing company.

Hibs have also been asked to provide answers over the cancellation of their friendly clash with Ross County last Saturday. SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster warned that the St Mirren situation is a clear warning that no risks can be taken as football battles to emerge from the Covid pandemic.

‘Scottish football is acutely aware of how vital it is that everyone adheres strictly to the various restrictions and testing regimes which are designed to protect our game,’ Doncaster said.

‘There can be no complacency, but we are heartened by the rigorous way that clubs, players and officials have responded to Covid-19 since March. 

‘With such regular testing being carried out by SPFL clubs, it is inevitable that several players or coaching staff will have tested positive. This has happened, as it has also happened in leagues around the world. What is vital is that clubs manage those very few confirmed positive tests such that the virus does not spread. So far, the rigorous work that our clubs have carried out has ensured that this is the case.

‘We continue to work with the health authorities and the Scottish Government and are looking forward with confidence to the resumption of matches next weekend.’