FIRST Minister Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed restrictions on crowds at outdoor sporting events in Scotland will be lifted from next Monday.

The news means football and rugby supporters can return to stadia on 17 January – the day Celtic host Hibernian – after being effectively closed out since Boxing Day, when a limit of 500 was imposed in a bid to slow the spread of the Omicron variant of Covid-19.

Sturgeon, speaking in her statement to the Scottish Parliament, said: “From next week, we will begin to lift measures introduced before Christmas but we will do so in a phased and careful way, starting with the removal of attendance limits on live outdoor events from Monday.”

For fans to attend matches again they will be required to have had their booster vaccine and for their vaccine passport to be fully updated.

Supporters can also show a record of a negative Covid-19 result from a test taken within 24 hours of the match.

If supporters are not using the Covid vaccine app then they must produce print outs or a PDF to show proof of vaccination.

Ms Sturgeon said today: “It is reasonable and right to be hopeful on the strength of the latest data, however for the period ahead, it is also prudent to remain careful and cautious. 

“This is the balance of judgement that has formed the decisions that the cabinet reached this morning. 

“As I indicated earlier we will begin to lift the protective measures announced before Christmas from Monday but we will do that in a phased way that will allow us in the days ahead to form a clearer picture of the trends in infection and the associated impacts. 

“The measures I am specifically referring to are limits on live public events, the requirement for distancing between groups in public indoor places and the requirement for table service in hospitality venues serving alcohol on the premises. 

“I expect to confirm further dates next week, however, I can confirm today that the attendance limit of 500 at large scale outdoor events will be lifted from Monday, January 17. 

"That means, for example, spectators will be permitted again at major outdoor sporting events including football fixtures scheduled for early next week and the forthcoming Six Nations rugby matches.

"The Covid certification scheme will remain in place for these and other events and venues previously covered - but with two important changes.

"Firstly, our guidance will now stipulate that the organisers of large events of 1000 or more people should check the certification status of at least 50 per cent of attendees rather than the current 20 per cent or at least 1000 people, whichever figure is highest.

"And second, from Monday the requirement to be fully vaccinated for the purposes of Covid certification will include having a booster if the second dose was more than four months ago. 

"The NHS Covid status app for domestic use will be updated from Thursday so that its QR code includes evidence of booster vaccination.

"It will also be possible to order updated paper and PDF copies of vaccination status which are now valid for three months and it will still be possible to gain admission to events and venues covered by the certification scheme by providing proof of a recent negative lateral flow test.

"Cabinet will next review the data at our meeting a week today and I hope this will allow us to lift the other protective measures; limits on indoor live events, table service in hospitality and distancing in indoor public places from the 24th of January."