Home fans allowed back into Pittodrie for football test event

Supporters will be allowed into a football match in Scotland for the first time since March this weekend - with Aberdeen hosting one of two test events.

A total of 300 home fans will be allowed into Pittodrie for the game between the Dons and Kilmarnock, along with Ross County v Celtic.

The Scottish Government says both clubs have undertaken to ensure fans attending will be local to their areas, to keep travel to a minimum.

Each of the home clubs will also provide a post-match report on operational delivery to inform guidance for future pilots. 

No date has been confirmed for the general resumption of stadia events outlined in the Scottish Government's route map out of the Covid-19 crisis.

Aberdeen say they will hold a ballot of the first 7,500 people to buy season tickets, to decide who gets access to the game, with supporters seated in the South Stand.

The club's commercial director Rob Wicks said: "Our guarantee to those who have purchased full season tickets is that they will get priority access for attending games this season and we are excited to be able to give some season ticket holders the opportunity to participate in this trial for the visit of Kilmarnock.

"It is their support which has helped and continues to help as we tackle the significant financial challenge in front of us and we want to do all that we can to recognise that.

"Our primary focus now is to build on the rigorous work that has been done so far to ensure we can host games at Pittodrie and extend that to provide a safe experience for our fans who have waited patiently for this opportunity.

"This is a learning process for us all and will require a bit more patience before we get back to the sort of crowds we were used to seeing before the pandemic began.

"This is a positive first step on the return to getting back to playing in front of larger crowds at Pittodrie and seeing the place rocking again, that is our focus and the commitment remains to invest in fan engagement and matchday experience to help re-establish Pittodrie as our fortress once again."

Sports Minister Joe FitzPatrick said: "No final decision has yet been taken regarding the general resumption of stadia events with restricted numbers of spectators and nothing should be taken for granted at this stage.

"However, the Scottish Government has agreed that the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) can hold two pilot events, each with 300 home supporters only, on September 12.

"A lot of work has gone on behind the scenes in recent months to create the protocols and testing regimes to allow top-level professional sport in Scotland to resume, and this arrangement follows extensive discussions with the Scottish FA, SPFL and clubs about public safety – particularly in relation to physical distancing and hygiene measures.

"The football authorities and the clubs involved have also been able to review and learn from the pilot event staged by Scottish Rugby on August 28 and we are confident there will be strict protocols in place at these two initial pilot football events.

"We are keeping all pilot events under close review."

Neil Doncaster, chief executive of the SPFL, said: "The joint response group (JRG) is pleased to have received confirmation of pilot events at two Scottish Premiership fixtures on September 12 and I would like to thank the respective home clubs – and indeed all 12 Premiership clubs – for the comprehensive return to supporting plans.

"We look forward to building on the successful supporter rugby pilot at BT Murrayfield and I know that clubs take the responsibility for the safe return of supporters seriously. This is another significant step forward for Scottish football and I reiterate the importance of fans to our national game.

"The JRG will continue to liaise with all clubs, especially the home clubs, in the coming week to ensure all protocols and guidance are adhered to and that fans can look forward to a phased return to supporting their respective teams."