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.
The Edinburgh South MP said: “It is extraordinary that the football match, regardless of what kind of football match or any sporting event or cultural event for that matter, is a threat to public health it should be postponed.
“Rather than the First Minister saying that she’s concerned that it might spread covid and she is concerned that and it might tempt people to breach the strict rules that are in place, particularly across the central belt with households mixing and people moving around. If that is the case, then surely postponement is the way to do this.”
Murray, who is a director of Hearts FC, said he would back the postponement of any matches if they were a threat to public safety.
He said: “I don’t think people will travel across the border to see Hearts vs Dundee. If anything is a threat to public health then they should be postponed.”
He added: “I just think it’s ridiculous mix of priorities when business owners are worried about whether or not they can survive and people are fighting to keep their jobs or losing their jobs for this to be a priority.”
The first Glasgow derby of the season will take place on Saturday behind closed doors.
Pubs in Glasgow and across the central belt are currently shut under temporary restrictions to combat the virus leading to fears that fans will travel to England to watch the game in pubs.
