Covid19 - Limited Crowds Allowed Into Two SPL Matches, Saturday.

Fans will attend football matches in Scotland for the first time since March tomorrow afternoon.

Two matches have been selected as test cases where 300 fans will be allowed to enter -

Aberdeen v Kilmarnock (at Pittodrie)

Ross County v Celtic (Dingwall)

We all know how the Impact decided to distribute tickets, by auction, recently but how have the Scottish clubs released their allocations?

Aberdeen - Dons fans had until 1700 hrs BST on Wednesday to enter a ballot to decide who would attend the game.

Only those supporters who bought season tickets before 10 July were eligible, with the first 7,500 who purchased this summer given priority.

The club also said they would “ensure a spread of different size groups and ages”.

Ross County - County will also hold a ballot, restricted to season-ticket holders who are also part of the Staggies Army supporters group. The club have announced that fans need not apply to be part of the draw.

Rules
Not unlike at the Impact rules will be in place. The rules are in fact pretty similar until the last one below referring to the avoidance of chanting/shouting/singing.

Anyone who is in quarantine, unwell or displaying Covid-19 symptoms should not attend.

But beyond that, tickets are non-transferable and fans must bring photo ID and arrive at the specified gate at the specified time, with entry being staggered to avoid crowds of people.
Temperatures will be checked before going into the stadium, hands should be sanitised, and face masks worn at all times.

Once in the ground, two metre social distancing rules should be adhered to, those climbing stairs should be given priority, and fans must sit in their allocated seat.

No kiosks will be open and perhaps most difficult of all... “chanting/shouting/singing are to be avoided to help reduce the risk of infection”.

Photo by Scott Baxter/Getty Images

Next Steps -
If the test cases go well, Aberdeen hope to get approval to admit 750 supporters to the following Sunday’s match at home to Motherwell.

But an update from Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, expected on Thursday, will be critical to any decisions around continuing or halting the test process.

SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster speaking to Sportsound on Tuesday, said there is “no firm timeline” to increase numbers at games.

“We should be looking to ensure these two events this weekends are a success,” he explained. “That should give everyone more confidence for future events.

“We all want the atmosphere fans create back at grounds. Clubs need fans back in the stadia in order to survive economically.”