Full-capacity crowds to return for Scottish outdoor sporting events

Full-capacity crowds can return from Monday 

First minister Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed that full-capacity crowds can return to Scottish outdoor sporting events from Monday. Last month, the Scottish government introduced Covid-19 restrictions that capped attendances at events at 500 - with the Scottish Premiership bringing forward its winter break as a result.

Sturgeon stated that she would offer clarity about indoor sporting events - such as ice hockey matches which had seated attendances reduced to 200 - next week.

The first minister said the "Covid certification scheme will remain in place" but with "two important changes" for organisers of events.

"Firstly, our guidance will now stipulate that the organisers of large events of 1,000 or more people should check the certification status of at least 50% of attendees, rather than the current 20%, or at least 1,000 people - whichever figure is higher," Ms Sturgeon explained.

"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.

"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."

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While the Premiership played one round of fixtures in front of largely empty grounds, two rounds of matches were postponed.

In football, Celtic's game against Hibernian is the first match of one of those postponed rounds to be played on Monday, while the majority of Scottish Premiership sides will return to action on Tuesday. 

The Championship, Leagues 1 and 2 and the SWPL all have games scheduled this weekend before restrictions end, as do Edinburgh and Glasgow.

It also appears that rugby's Six Nations will be played in front of full crowds when it begins next month. 

Scotland have games scheduled against England (5 February) and France (26 February) in this year's championship.

Related links:

• Scottish football chiefs to discuss playing games in England
• Scottish football to go effectively crowd-free as Sturgeon outlines new Covid measures
• Deaths of despair: What’s killing Scottish men?