TRADITIONAL handshakes between players, coaches and match officials at Scottish football games have been banned with immediate effect due to coronavirus fears.
The Scottish FA and Scottish Professional Football League have made the decision to suspend the shaking of hands before and after matches amid growing cases of the virus in the UK.
The football authorities announced yesterday that they had formed a joint response group in order to address the implications of the outbreak.
Earlier today, sports lawyer Laura McCallum tweeted: “SFA/SPFL Coronavirus Response Group suspends, with immediate effect, the traditional practice of shaking hands between players and match officials prior to and following matches.”
And according to Kheredine Idessane, the ban will begin with tonight’s Edinburgh derby.
The @ScottishFA & @spfl have written to clubs telling players & match officials NOT to shake hands pre or post match at Scottish games. Starting tonight with @HibernianFC v @JamTarts , and all the other big games in the lower leagues @BBCSportScot @BBCScotlandNews #coronavirus
— @Kheredine (@Kheredine2018) March 3, 2020
The relegation battle between Championship sides Partick Thistle and Queen of the South will also see the tradition scrapped.
Upon the formation of the response group, SFA chief Ian Maxwell said: “The safety of everyone involved in attending or participating in a major football event is our foremost consideration and given the developing situation locally and internationally, it is incumbent on the football authorities to speak with one voice in providing guidance and reassurance to stakeholders. This applies to matches hosted here in Scotland but also for teams participating in competitions outwith the country.
“Our medical consultant is in regular dialogue with experts and colleagues across the UK and beyond and we will be guided by the UK Chief Medical Officer as well as Dr Catherine Calderwood, the Chief Medical Officer for Scotland.
“While it is important to stress that the current government advice states the risk to individuals is moderate, nonetheless we are starting to see the impact the spread of the virus is having, with the postponement of sporting events across Europe.
“The response group will co-ordinate activity daily to ensure Scottish football takes the necessary measures to safeguard the wellbeing of everyone involved in the national game amid the outbreak.”
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