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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Dan Kilpatrick

Scotland boss Steve Clarke not attending Nations League draw amid fears over coronavirus travel restrictions

Scotland manager Steve Clarke has pulled out of Tuesday evening's Uefa Nations League draw in Amsterdam, with the Scottish Football Association (SFA) unwilling to take any unnecessary risks over the spread of coronavirus.

SFA president Rod Petrie and chief executive Ian Maxwell have both travelled to the Netherlands, but it is understood there were genuine concerns that Clarke could be stuck on the continent if Europe-wide travel restrictions are tightened in the next 48 hours.

Scotland face Israel in a Euro 2020 qualifier at Hampden Park on March 23 as they bid to reach a first major tournament since the 1998 World Cup in France.

The English Football Association have decided against taking such stringent precautions ahead of this month's friendlies against Italy and Denmark.

Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate was this morning en route to Amsterdam to join FA chairman Greg Clarke and CEO Mark Bullingham at the draw, which gets underway at 5pm GMT.

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