Doug Ward

Fri 17 December 2021 12:59, UK

Nicola Sturgeon will not stop Rangers fans from attending their clash with Dundee United on Saturday.

COVID cases are rising across the UK amid the new Omicron variant but that will not stop the SNP leader from forcing fans to stay away from Ibrox due to the financial impact it would have.

BBC Scotland’s Chris McLaughlin asked Sturgeon whether football matches in Glasgow would take place with no fans this weekend.

McLaughlin tweeted on Friday to say: “Asked about big football matches going ahead with fans in Glasgow this weekend, Nicola Sturgeon says harder to limit events industry if she can’t compensate.

“Asking for UK government cash to help. Chief medical officer asking fans to take lateral flow tests.”

Empty Old Firm?

While it seems as though Rangers and Dundee United fans will be able to attend Ibrox on Saturday, they are being told to take lateral flow tests beforehand.

Sturgeon has already been quoted by the Daily Record as saying that new restrictions may soon come into place but it looks as though Scotland’s First Minister will need to secure cash from the UK in order to soften the economical blow of closing down certain industries.

We’ve seen in the Premier League how matches are getting called off left, right and centre while Dundee United have had their own COVID issues ahead of their trip to Ibrox this weekend [Glasgow Evening Times].

Whatever happens in the coming days, weeks, months and even years should have public safety at the forefront of any decisions.

However, it seems that in this case, the financial aspects of new restrictions is slowing the response of the Scottish Government.

We don’t want fans to be locked out of Ibrox. We don’t want a silent Old Firm on January 2.

We want to be able to go to matches and we want this whole COVID issue over and done with. We’re fed up with it.

In other Rangers news, the Gers will terminate this player’s loan deal as soon as they can.