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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Mark Walker

Scotland's play-off decider could be played behind closed doors according to Israel official

Israel's sporting director Willie Rothensteiner has suggested Scotland's Euro 2020 play-off with Isreal at Hampden will be played without the backing of the Tartan Army.

The Scots play the Israelis, who they defeated at home in the Nation's League, later this month with the winners travelling to Serbia or Norway for a place in the finals.

The SFA announced on their website on Tuesday night that the fixture had sold out and any move to play a closed doors game will be incredibly disappointing for fans - as well as painful financially for the cash-strapped SFA.

With an increasing amount of games across Europe now being played behind closed doors due to the deadly spread of coronavirus, there are fears Hampden could be empty for the clash.

And Israeli FA sporting director, Willie Rothensteiner - who is in self-isolation himself - thinks Scotland fans are about to face a lock-out.

He said: "My feeling is that the game with Scotland will go ahead as planned. But my assessment is that there will no fans at it.

"It's not my place to add to the fears of people. I know very well what is happening in the world and certainly in Europe.

"I admit the circumstances for this game have changed and preparations are not ideal to say the least.

"But coronavirus is more important than football at the moment and everyone is having to deal with the same problem.

"Most of the squad will now join us directly in the north of England at our training camp."

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