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How will Saturday's Scottish Premiership test events with fans work?

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Ross County supportersImage source, SNS
Image caption,

Ross County supporters will be much more spread out when Celtic visit on Saturday

For the first time since March, fans will be at a Scottish football match on Saturday.

Up to 300 Aberdeen supporters will be able to watch their side welcome Kilmarnock, while the same number of Ross County followers can attend the visit of champions Celtic.

But how will it work?

How do clubs decide on the 300?

Aberdeen fans had until 17:00 BST on Wednesday to enter a ballot to decide who will attend Pittodrie.

Those who bought season tickets before 10 July were eligible, with the first 7,500 who purchased this summer given priority. Non-season ticket holders could not enter.

The club also said they would "ensure a spread of different size groups and ages".

County will also hold a ballot, restricted to season-ticket holders who are also part of the Staggies Army supporters group. In this case, fans need not apply to be part of the draw.

Media caption,

'Celtic will be intimidated by a couple of hundred of fans...'

What rules are in place?

Obviously, anyone who is in quarantine, unwell or displaying Covid-19 symptoms should not attend.

But beyond that, tickets are non-transferable and fans must bring photo ID and arrive at the specified gate at the specified time, with entry being staggered to avoid crowds of people.

Temperatures will be checked before going into the stadium, hands should be sanitised, and face masks worn at all times.

Once in the ground, two metre social distancing rules should be adhered to, those climbing stairs should be given priority, and fans must sit in their allocated seat.

No kiosks will be open and perhaps most difficult of all... "chanting/shouting/singing are to be avoided to help reduce the risk of infection".

What happens next?

Aberdeen hope to get confirmation they can admit 750 supporters to the following Sunday's match against Motherwell at Pittodrie.

But first an update of some kind is expected from Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon on Thursday - an announcement that could either continue, or indeed halt, the test event process.

Speaking to Sportsound on Tuesday, SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster said there is "no firm timeline" to increase numbers at games.

"We should be looking to ensure these two events this weekends are a success," he explained. "That should give everyone more confidence for future events.

"We all want the atmosphere fans create back at grounds. Clubs need fans back in the stadia in order to survive economically.

"It's a very, very difficult financial balancing act at present and we need to have a route map back to fans in stadia - that's why this weekend is so important."

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