Jason Leitch has delivered a huge boost to Scottish football fans after revealing stadiums could be FULL by early August.
Celtic chief executive Dominic McKay revealed on Friday that he had held positive discussions with the Scottish Government on supporters being allowed back through the turnstiles.
And National Clinical Director Leitch confirmed that in an interview on the BBC Sunday Show which has given massive hope to fans.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon unveiled plans for Scottish ‘Freedom Day’ on August 9 when all major Covid-19 restrictions will be lifted.
And if that goes to plan then the weekend of August 14/15 when the Premier Sports Cup second round takes place could be played in front of capacity crowds.
Fans have been locked out of grounds since the country went into lockdown last March but around 12,000 fans have attended three Euro 2020 fixtures - two involving Scotland - at Hampden and the same is expected for the Sweden v Ukraine last-16 tie on Tuesday.
SFA chief executive Ian Maxwell admitted the return of fans to domestic games would always hinge on that “gateway event”.
Asked if football stadiums will be full after August 9, Leitch said: “Yes, they can on August 10th, but we've had to learn that new word, that indicative word, so we have given advice that with a fair wind the trajectory we are presently on with vaccinations, remember, we are vaccinating 300,000 people every 10 days so that's a lot of vaccine and this six weeks buys us quite a lot of vaccine time.
"If people come and that's the important thing people can do then, yes, we hope August 9th and 10th can happen."
“On August 9th, the level system disappears, unless, for instance, there were particular hotspots or the country didn't do what we hope it will do. Maybe vaccinations slow down for some reason.
"It's a little bit indicative, then on August 9th all physical distancing is removed and the limits on event sizes are removed."
Asked again if football would be back again at full capacity, he said: “Yes, but you are making me sweat.”
