A leading health expert has called the decision to allow the Euro 2020 fans zone in Glasgow to go ahead as "controversial".
Professor Linda Bauld, who is an expert in public health at the University of Edinburgh, accepted the risk to people attending the park in Glasgow Green is low if rules are adhered to.
Yesterday, Health Secretary Humza Yousaf gave the green light for the supporter's zone to go ahead as planned however he urged those attending to take a covid-19 test beforehand.
It comes as health experts and opposition politicians have criticised the Scottish Government for allowing the park to proceed given the rising number of cases in Scotland, and that Glasgow has just left Level 3 lockdown restrictions.
Speaking on the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme Prof Bauld said some people may find it hard to understand the reasons behind allowing the fans park.
She added: "Is it's just people moving about outside and distancing is maintained that is low risk.
"It's all the things that come with a mass event, so it is not without risks. It is less risky than a mass indoor event but it is also controversial.
"The reason it is controversial is because when you contrast this will all the other things that are restricted, it's hard for some families, communities and sectors to understand the logic."
The fan zone - which will be fenced off and open only to ticket holders - will be subject to strict rules.
It will feature giant screens to watch all Euro games, a family area, live entertainment, and a bar area with table service.
Yousaf said those who buy tickets will be encouraged to take a free lateral flow test before they attend, but ruled out testing becoming mandatory at the site.
Asked if mandatory testing should have been a condition for the fans park to go ahead.
Prof Bauld said: "That's my personal view, I've said this before.
"It's not the kind of thing you could suddenly do now, it requires a lot of organisation and setup and there's two main options.
"You either require it in advance. In other words, people have to take a test for example the day before, the same day and then demonstrate evidence.
"You need a system set up to allow them to submit that evidence or you require them to take it just before they enter which is very difficult to deliver you've got people queuing etc.
"I think the problem here though is that in some of the events, south of the border, including actually the football matches themselves, they're being run as part of the events research programme, and people are having to provide evidence of a negative test.
"I do think unfortunately given the high infection rates we still have if that have been set up earlier on, it would have given people a lot more assurance and confidence in the event."
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