Football, Idiots and Covid-19
Celtic fans gather at Parkhead despite Nicola Sturgeon's warnings to stay away
The Green Brigade delivered their message as the Hoops team bus arrived at Celtic Park.
By Jonathan McFarlane & Sean Murphy Daily Record
Celtic ultra group the Green Brigade continued to make the importance of today's clash with Rangers clear to the players as the Hoops team bus arrived in Paradise - despite pleas for fans not to congregate at the game.
Neil Lennon, Steven Gerrard and even First Minister Nicola Sturgeon had called for fans to stay away from the stadium today and take in the match in the safety of their homes.
But their message was not heeded as a group of fans greeted the arrival of their heroes with smoke bombs and firecrackers that emitted green smoke and a banner that stated simply: "Today, nothing else matters".
Football, Idiots and Covid-19 (17/10/20)
I'll be watching the Celtic vs Rangers match in a couple of hours which will be an interesting experience with no fans inside the stadium.
Ian Murray, the Labour Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland, has called for Saturday's Old Firm derby to be postponed amid fears that fans will break covid lockdown to see the match.
Saturday’s Celtic vs Rangers game should be postponed as matter of public safety during the coronavirus lockdown, Labour’s Ian Murray MP has said.
The Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland called on Nicola Sturgeon to ban the game amid fears that fans will travel from Glasgow to Blackpool pubs or congregate in private homes in breach of guidelines designed to stop the spread of the virus.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-54576538
Covid in Scotland: Fans urged to watch Old Firm match at home
Football fans have been urged to abide by local lockdown restrictions and watch the Old Firm match at home.
The managers of Celtic and Rangers have joined First Minister Nicola Sturgeon in appealing to their supporters to help curb the spread of the virus.
Fans who flout rules on households mixing are "putting others at risk", one public health chief warned.
And those hoping to watch the game in Blackpool pubs were warned there would be a high police presence in the town.
Celtic are due to play Rangers at Celtic Park at 12:30.
The Scottish Premiership clash will take place in an empty stadium due to coronavirus restrictions which ban crowds from watching live sport.
It will be televised but pubs in the central belt are currently closed due to the pandemic.
During the Scottish government daily coronavirus briefing on Friday, Ms Sturgeon told Old Firm fans:
- They should not watch the game in other people's homes
- They should not travel to other parts of Scotland or to England to watch the game in pubs
- They should not gather outside the stadium
She added: "Nobody likes the fact that these restrictions have to be in place but they are vital to protecting all of us and keeping us safe.
"So please comply with restrictions - by doing that you will be playing your part in helping us get the virus under control and you'll be helping hasten the day when we can all watch and enjoy the things that we love doing, whether that's football or the many things that we find ourselves not able to do normally."
During the same briefing, she announced there had been nine more deaths of coronavirus patients recorded in the previous 24 hours, bringing the total number of fatalities under this measure to 2,594.
A total of 1,196 people tested positive for coronavirus over the same time period, while the number of people being admitted to hospital with the virus is increasing.
Temporary restrictions to bring the outbreak back under control in the central belt have led to the closure of most licensed premises in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Lanarkshire, Lothian, Forth Valley and Ayrshire and Arran NHS boards.
Those living in these areas have been warned not to travel to other parts of Scotland or to areas in England where such restrictions are not in force.
Earlier this week the first minister said football fans should avoid going to Blackpool, after about 180 people with coronavirus told contact tracers that they had recently been to holiday resort.
Police in Lancashire have echoed her plea.
Covid, Idiots and Guidelines (13/10/20)
Dr Benger responded forcefully by saying:
"I can't comment on the Margaret Ferrier case for obvious reasons.
"What I would say is that we have a helpline and if anyone's in any doubt at all, they can ring the helpline and get advice, very rapidly on what guidance should be followed.
"If anyone had any uncertainty about what they were supposed to do in the event that they were tested, or had come into contact with someone who is self isolating, we have helplines available for that."
No One Resigns Anymore (12/10/20)
MP DEFIANT
Margaret Ferrier breaks her silence on Covid train trips and says she WON’T quit
By Kevin Duguid - Scottish Sun
But, despite being suspended by the SNP, Ms Ferrier, 60, insisted: “I’m continuing to work hard.”The under-fire MP has told how she “panicked” after finding out she had coronavirus — and took a 350-mile train trip back to Scotland.
The SNP politician said having the killer bug made her “act out of character” as she defended her earlier decision to travel to London and speak in Parliament after showing symptoms and taking a test.
She revealed she got the shock news of her positive result in her Westminster office after taking part in a House of Commons debate.
Ms Ferrier told The Scottish Sun on Sunday she was stunned to find out she was infected as her “tickly throat” had disappeared by then.
Let's Hear From Margaret (03/10/20)
Nicola Sturgeon was apparently struggling yesterday to understand why one of her MPs (Margaret Ferrier) 'did what she did' in travelling back and forward to London with the suspicion, then certain knowledge that she was carrying the highly infectious Coronavirus.
Now unlike the rest of us the First Minister has had the opportunity of putting this very question to the MP for Rutherglen and Hamilton West, but I for one would like to hear what Margaret Ferrier has to say for herself.
After all she is in a very highly paid (£75,000 a year), responsible job and she was selected by the SNP to fight her Lanarkshire seat on two separate occasions which has to mean that the SNP leadership does not believe that her head 'button's up the back'.
So I would be very interested to know what possessed an experienced Member of Parliament to ignore all the official advice, along with all the daily briefings given by her party leader, before setting off on a kamikaze mission which looks like ruining her career.
Now I understand that the SNP leadership would like Margaret Ferrier to resign with immediate effect, as this would trigger a by-election, allow them to select a new candidate and forget this whole tawdry business ever happened, but there are bigger issues at stake.
Once Margaret Ferrier has recovered from the effects of Covid-19 I think she should be invited to spell out how she got herself into this terrible mess because both Margaret and the SNP owe the public a better explanation than just throwing one of their members under the bus.
Do As I Say - Not As I Do (02/10/20)
I'm sure this will merit a mention at the First Minister's daily press briefings, but given the seriousness of the situation I suspect it deserves a full statement in the House of Commons and the Scottish Parliament.
SNP MP Margaret Ferrier travelled from London to Scotland by train after positive result for coronavirus
SNP MP travelled from Scotland to London after testing positive for Covid-19
AN SNP MP has admitted breaking lockdown rules by travelling back and forth between Scotland and London by train while positive for coronavirus.
The Rutherglen MP, who previously called for Dominic Cummings to resign over his Barnard Castle trip, has issued an apology for her actions on social media.
