THE Scottish Football Association (SFA) board has approved a restricted lifting of the football suspension that will enable Premiership clubs to resume training after June 10.
The move follows discussions between SFA chief executive Ian Maxwell, SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster and the Minister of Public Health, Sport and Wellbeing Joe Fitzpatrick and National Clinical Director of Scotland Jason Leitch on Friday.
A "robust" coronavirus testing regime was presented to the Scottish government along with timelines for the safe return to training and playing and the board has agreed to a limited lifting of the suspension that was put in place on March 13.
But the SFA and SPFL Joint Response Group stressed that any other competitions wishing to return to training must show their ability to meet the testing regime and other safeguarding measures agreed with Holyrood.
Maxwell admitted the cost of testing was "prohibitive" for many clubs and stated the suspension will remain in place for those leagues that cannot meet such criteria and will be reviewed on an ongoing basis.
He said: “Firstly, I would stress that the conditional lifting of suspension for Scottish Premiership clubs is predicated on observing the measures outlined by Scottish government in their route map out of lockdown.
“I would like to thank the Joint Response Group sub groups for their work in helping to produce the robust Return to Training protocol which has given the government the necessary comfort to provisionally plan for an August 1 restart for the Premiership.
“In particular I would like to recognise the efforts of Dr John MacLean, our medical consultant, and his medical sub group in providing clear and unambiguous guidance to clubs on the testing procedures required.
“I am also aware that other parts of the game will seek further clarity on when they may be able to resume. The testing criteria required at this stage is prohibitive but as the governing body for football we are determined to restore the national game at all levels as soon as it is safe and practical to do so.
“I am aware of the need to provide an achievable route map for the women’s game and we are engaged with Scottish Women’s Football to discuss the practicalities for the Scottish Women’s Premier League, especially given Glasgow City’s involvement in the UEFA Women’s Champions League.
“The grassroots sub-group has recently issued a Q&A to the recreational game and we are in the process of looking at initiatives to keep those grassroots footballers of all ages engaged until they can return to the football pitch.”
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