SPFL League 1 and 2 clubs propose route to playing again

Football clubs in League 1 and 2 have united to push for a return to playing games, hoping to resume their competitions in March.

On January 11, the Scottish FA suspended all football below Championship level, and the Scottish Cup, for at least three weeks due to concerns about travel-related Covid.

Some clubs were unhappy with the decision, and spoke out publicly but now all 20 sides from the two leagues have written to the governing body with a plan to begin testing and then start playing again.

A spokesman for the clubs said: “We are all aware of the ongoing impact of the pandemic on everyone’s lives.

“We take our responsibilities to our staff and players seriously and that’s why we have complied with all that has been asked of us to date.

“However, we have used the pause in playing to look at what more we can do to create a route to us playing again in a way that reassures the football authorities and the Scottish Government.

“We know that football can be a force for good and that our games allow our fans to have one familiar activity available to them at a difficult time. But we also recognise that we need to do more if we want to restart and this proposal lays out what that might look like including the introduction of PCR testing.

“We understand the difficult position the Scottish FA found itself in when it suspended our leagues. But there will have to be a decision made about when we restart. So we wanted to support and assist in the decision-making process. This document shows that, in coming together with common purpose, 20 clubs are committed to this process and hope that the SFA will treat this proposal with the consideration it deserves.”