FIFPro chief issues verdict on how long Rangers may have to play behind closed doors
Rangers could be facing a full season of playing football behind closed doors because of the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, according to FIFPro chief Jonas Baer-Hoffman.
The secretary-general of the international players’ union has claimed that the professional game in Scotland may not be able to return to normal until a vaccine for Covid-19 is developed.
All matches north of the border have been suspended in the wake of the crisis, and campaigns in Leagues One, Two, and the Championship have been brought to an end already.
But Baer-Hoffman believes that it could be a long time before supporters are allowed back into stadiums.
As quoted by the Scottish Sun, he said: “In terms of fans being back inside stadiums that might likely not be possible until people are vaccinated.
“So it may well be that we play a full season without spectators.”
What can we take from this?
This really isn’t good news, is it?
The sooner we can get back to normality, the better for the club, players, and fans alike.
But the reality is that we could still be a long way from a situation in which it is safe to have tens of thousands of people within close proximity of each.
And as disappointing as it would be, safety and wellbeing will always be vastly more important than attending a football match.
Of course, Baer-Hoffman is speaking about a worst case scenario, and it could well be that supporters are allowed back in stadiums a lot sooner than he is suggesting here.
But with UEFA pushing for countries to make vital decisions on how and when they are going to conclude this current campaign in the hope that 2020/21 can start as close to its initial schedule as possible, it does feel as if we could be facing a future with empty arenas for some time to come.
In other Rangers news, Rab Douglas: Celtic have a lot to lose from Gers battle with SPFL.