The show must go on.
Even if more lockdown measures are reintroduced, it would be catastrophic for the game — and for the country — if football was curtailed again.
This season has to be completed and, preferably, with supporters back in stadiums.
I’m just not buying into the claims it is not safe to have fans at matches.
For me, the mixed messages coming out of Hampden and Holyrood don’t stack up.
Of course, I accept we are in the middle of a global pandemic and I’m not for one minute saying everyone associated with football in Scotland is perfect.
The breaches of Covid-19 protocol by the Aberdeen Eight and Celtic’s Boli Bolingoli highlight this.
However, the vast majority involved in our national game are following the rules and procedures put in place to make football as safe as possible.
Surely Premiership clubs should be able to operate at even ten per cent of crowd capacity — and that would be a worst-case scenario.
Take my old club Kilmarnock, for example.
They average around 5,500 per game. What would be wrong with half of them being allowed into home games?
Rugby Park has an 18,000 capacity so there would be more than enough room for the fans to social distance.
It would then be over to the supporters to respect the opportunity afforded them.
Tickets would be delivered remotely to phones and the punters would have a certain amount of time to reach their seat.
They could even have their half-time pie and drink delivered to wherever they are sitting. Just as restaurants are allowed to do.
This might well be the future anyway, so why not take the opportunity to try it out first with vastly-reduced numbers?
What baffles me is that millions of people every day are allowed into supermarkets, restaurants and pubs but not into football grounds.
I’ve never been one to shy away from my food and have been to umpteen shops over the past few months.
And, let me tell you, there is far more risk of catching coronavirus in your local supermarket than there is at Rugby Park in the middle of winter.
Restaurants have also been packed with the “Eat Out To Help Out” campaign.
So why are most cafes and bars, albeit at a reduced capacity, allowed to open indoors while football grounds remain on the banned list?
Yes, we need to be vigilant and, yes, we need to make sure we follow the rules.
But it is time to let fans off the leash and stop treating everyone like children.
If anybody misbehaves or does not follow the protocols throw them out.
Every ground has closed-circuit TV so they would not be difficult to find.
Having 300 fans at the two test events in Aberdeen and Dingwall was great, but the clubs still lost money given all the hoops they had to jump through.
Football is among the biggest businesses in Scotland and I keep hearing we need to do everything in our power to keep business going.
Without the Sky Sports money then who knows how much worse the current situation would be?
The top-flight teams are just about getting by at the moment but I really fear for the lower-league clubs.
Hearts, following their relegation, could be the biggest casualty and unless we find a way to get money into these football clubs they will disappear.
The First Minister and the beaks at the SFA need to raise their heads above the parapet on this.
Holyrood can’t be allowed to let football die a slow, painful death.
I do understand the seriousness of Covid-19 but let us have some perspective.
There were three admissions to one hospital earlier this week yet, on the same day, there were 12 people who walked through the front door with severe mental health problems.
I’m not for one minute arguing we ignore coronavirus but there are other issues that need to be addressed too.
Football is not a miracle cure for people struggling day-to-day.
However, from my own personal experiences through my mental health charity, I do know it helps a lot of people.
For so many people at the moment, the game is the only thing providing passion, enjoyment and bringing some semblance of sanity.
Don’t take that away from us.
Even if more lockdown measures are reintroduced, it would be catastrophic for the game — and for the country — if football was curtailed again.
This season has to be completed and, preferably, with supporters back in stadiums.
I’m just not buying into the claims it is not safe to have fans at matches.
For me, the mixed messages coming out of Hampden and Holyrood don’t stack up.
Of course, I accept we are in the middle of a global pandemic and I’m not for one minute saying everyone associated with football in Scotland is perfect.
The breaches of Covid-19 protocol by the Aberdeen Eight and Celtic’s Boli Bolingoli highlight this.
However, the vast majority involved in our national game are following the rules and procedures put in place to make football as safe as possible.
Surely Premiership clubs should be able to operate at even ten per cent of crowd capacity — and that would be a worst-case scenario.
Take my old club Kilmarnock, for example.
They average around 5,500 per game. What would be wrong with half of them being allowed into home games?
Rugby Park has an 18,000 capacity so there would be more than enough room for the fans to social distance.
It would then be over to the supporters to respect the opportunity afforded them.
Tickets would be delivered remotely to phones and the punters would have a certain amount of time to reach their seat.
They could even have their half-time pie and drink delivered to wherever they are sitting. Just as restaurants are allowed to do.
This might well be the future anyway, so why not take the opportunity to try it out first with vastly-reduced numbers?
What baffles me is that millions of people every day are allowed into supermarkets, restaurants and pubs but not into football grounds.
I’ve never been one to shy away from my food and have been to umpteen shops over the past few months.
And, let me tell you, there is far more risk of catching coronavirus in your local supermarket than there is at Rugby Park in the middle of winter.
Restaurants have also been packed with the “Eat Out To Help Out” campaign.
So why are most cafes and bars, albeit at a reduced capacity, allowed to open indoors while football grounds remain on the banned list?
Yes, we need to be vigilant and, yes, we need to make sure we follow the rules.
But it is time to let fans off the leash and stop treating everyone like children.
If anybody misbehaves or does not follow the protocols throw them out.
Every ground has closed-circuit TV so they would not be difficult to find.
Having 300 fans at the two test events in Aberdeen and Dingwall was great, but the clubs still lost money given all the hoops they had to jump through.
Football is among the biggest businesses in Scotland and I keep hearing we need to do everything in our power to keep business going.
Without the Sky Sports money then who knows how much worse the current situation would be?
The top-flight teams are just about getting by at the moment but I really fear for the lower-league clubs.
Hearts, following their relegation, could be the biggest casualty and unless we find a way to get money into these football clubs they will disappear.
The First Minister and the beaks at the SFA need to raise their heads above the parapet on this.
Holyrood can’t be allowed to let football die a slow, painful death.
I do understand the seriousness of Covid-19 but let us have some perspective.
There were three admissions to one hospital earlier this week yet, on the same day, there were 12 people who walked through the front door with severe mental health problems.
I’m not for one minute arguing we ignore coronavirus but there are other issues that need to be addressed too.
Football is not a miracle cure for people struggling day-to-day.
However, from my own personal experiences through my mental health charity, I do know it helps a lot of people.
For so many people at the moment, the game is the only thing providing passion, enjoyment and bringing some semblance of sanity.
Don’t take that away from us.