Disappointed football fans of Tayside’s top three clubs were diplomatic after being warned by the first minister that any return of the national game looked likely to be later rather than sooner.
Supporters’ associations from St Johnstone, Dundee United and Dundee agreed that there was a bigger picture at play but believed the announcement was worrying news for the future of clubs and players in the Scottish leagues.
Playing games behind closed doors has also been cast into doubt by Nicola Sturgeon who is worried that large crowds will congregate to watch the games.
However fans are more concerned that there will be no money for their clubs in closed-door games.
Susan Batten, chairwoman at Arab Trust – the Dundee United supporters’ society – said: “It’s pretty bad news for football and the longer the teams are not playing the fans are not getting to watch the game.
“But people’s safety is paramount at the end of the day.
“People’s lives are far more important than football.
“We want to see the season out and if that was to be behind closed doors and if that was the chance to get football back up and running then okay.
“But from a fan’s perspective we wouldn’t get to see anything unless we got an agreement with television.
“Without gate receipts it is going to be really hard for a lot of clubs.”
Kenny Ross, Dundee Supporters’ Association chairman, believes that yesterday’s announcement from the first minister was inevitable.
He said: “I think it was becoming obvious as the days went on that football wasn’t coming back anytime soon.
“As important as football is to people, and it is massive in this country, it has to take second place behind people’s health and safety.
“Even when things begin to reopen football is going to come last along with big concerts and events and that is the right thing to do.”
Kenny rejected the idea of closed door games saying it would do nothing for the fans or the teams as clubs would receive no television money or gate receipts.
He said: “Your average Scottish Premiership or Championship game won’t get shown on TV.
“We’re going to start a brand new season from scratch – just wait.”
Dan Shek, of Fair City Saints Supporters’ Club, said: “If the government is going to stop it then they are going to stop it. There’s more important things than football – even though I hate to say it.”
