Coronavirus Joint Response Group Update

The Joint Response Group has committed to beginning the initial planning phase for the resumption of football by creating new sub-groups to support the Scottish Football Restart.

It is important to stress that this will be done in line with current Scottish Government and Chief Medical Officer advice – as updated in the First Minister’s publication of Looking Beyond Lockdown – and in cognisance of the current suspension of Scottish football until June 10.

We also note the announcement today from Joe FitzPatrick, Minister for Public Health, Sport, and Wellbeing, regarding the creation of a virtual roundtable to discuss practicalities for the safe emergence from lockdown for sports bodies.

The sub-groups will be integral to that process and are formed under the jurisdiction of the Scottish FA Board.

Each group has been assigned a rolling two-week update period in which to undertake research in order of priorities outlined by the chair. The sub-groups will provide recommendations in key operational, logistical and commercial areas to ensure the safe and efficient return to Scottish football for all stakeholders, in line with the Scottish Government’s Framework for Decisions.

The sub-groups are comprised of subject matter experts from across Scottish football are as follows:

Medical and Player Welfare (co-chaired by Dr John MacLean and Duncan Fraser)

Name	Club / Organisation
Mark Blount	Queen of the South
Derek Crossan	Club Secretary, Linlithgow Rose
Eric Drysdale	Club Secretary, Dundee
Dr Jonny Gordon	National Team Doctor, Scottish FA
David Hamilton	Scottish Government
Graeme Jones	Head of Performance, Scottish FA
Dr Andrew Murray	Consultant in Sport & Exercise Medicine, Edinburgh University
Nathan Ring	Head of Medical, Hibernian
Dr James Robson	Chief Medical Officer, Scottish Rugby Union
Adam Stokes	Head of Medical, Aberdeen
Dr Gareth Strachan	Club Doctor, Montrose
Marcin Szostak	Head of Medical, Dundee United
Dr Mark Waller	Club Doctor, Rangers
Tim Williamson	Head of Medical Services, Celtic

Terms of reference:

1. 1. Emerging from lockdown and Scottish Government interaction
   2. Risk assessment
   3. Returning to training from individual to group including biosecure environment
   4. Returning to matches both behind closed doors and with spectators including biosecure environment
   5. Player welfare including protocols for sick players and avoidance of injury
   6. Testing
      
      Club and Stadium Operations  (Co-chaired by Ian Maxwell/Mike Mulraney)

Name	Club / Organisation
Gerry Britton	Chief Executive, Partick Thistle
Danny Bisland	National Club GROW Manager, Scottish FA
Lorna Cameron	Interim Executive Officer, Scottish Women’s Football
Derek Crossan	Club Secretary, Linlithgow Rose
Leeann Dempster	Chief Executive, Hibernian
Adrian Filby	Commercial Director, Celtic
Steven Gunn	Director of Football Operations, Aberdeen
David Hamilton	Scottish Government
Robin Howe	Security & Operations Manager, Rangers
Robbie MacGregor	Chair of Football Safety Officers Association Scotland
Laura McCallum	Head of Football Admin & Legal Affairs, Dundee United
Garry O’Hagan	Football Operations Professional
Police Scotland	Represented by Campbell Crawford, Chief Inspector NFIP Scotland
John Taylor	Vice-Chairman, Clyde
Fraser Wishart	Chief Executive, PFA Scotland

Terms of reference                                                                                     

Club Operations

1. 1. Daily operational logistics
   2. Supporter/partner interaction
   3. Stadium/pitch maintenance

Matchday Operations

1. 1. Stadium operations and set-up
   2. Safety, policing, stewarding and first aid provision
   3. Team related matters – access, egress, changing rooms, kit, technical areas,
   4. Media and broadcast logistics
   5. Pre-Match Operations and Communication

Supporter Welfare (Co-chaired by Mike Mulraney/Ian Maxwell)

Name	Club / Organisation
Stuart Brown	Chairman, Stirling Albion
Andrew Byron	Director, Partick Thistle
Adrian Filby	Commercial Director, Celtic
Gregor Hall	Director, Queen’s Park
David Hamilton	Scottish Government
Drew Main	Director, Dunfermline Athletic
Colin Millar	Senior Operations Manager, Hibernian
Alan Russell	Chief Executive, Supporters Direct Scotland
Tony Smith	Club Secretary, Camelon Juniors
Margaret Steven	Director, Cowdenbeath

Terms of reference:

1. 1. Supporter journey
   2. Access and egress at stadiums
   3. Facilities within stadiums
   4. First aid provision
   5. Supporter and player interaction

Broadcasting and Innovation (Chaired by Neil Doncaster)

Name	Club / Organisation
James Bisgrove	Commercial & Marketing Director, Rangers
Dave Cormack	Chairman, Aberdeen
Ron Gordon	Chairman, Hibernian
David Hamilton	Scottish Government
Kerry Keenan	Head of Marketing and Multimedia, Celtic
Kieran Koszary	Executive Director, Falkirk
Gregg McEwan	Head of Marketing & Commercial Operations, Kilmarnock
Rod McKenzie	SPFL Legal Counsel
Chris Rawlings	Commercial Director, Scottish FA
Andrew Sinclair	Head of Partnerships, SPFL
Duncan Smillie	Director, Partick Thistle

Terms of reference:

1. 1. Production
   2. Transmission methods
   3. Broadcast and content opportunities: online streaming (UK and overseas); associated payment platform(s)
   4. Virtual season tickets and other innovations
   5. Radio
   6. Club channels/broadcast partner interaction
   7. Blocked hours
      
      Regulation (Chair Calum Beattie)

Name	Club / Organisation
Sandy Bryson	Head of Registrations, Scottish FA
Andrew Dickson	Director of Finance and Administration, Rangers
Laura Dougan	Head of Football Governance, Scottish FA
George Fraser	Chairman, SLFL
Steven Gunn	Director of Football Operations, Aberdeen
David Hamilton	Scottish Government
Rod Houston	Secretary, SHFL
Laura McCallum	Head of Football Administration & Legal Affairs, Dundee United
Fiona McIntyre	Scottish Women’s Football
Thomas McKeown	Scottish Amateur FA
Rod McKenzie	SPFL Legal Counsel
Michael Nicholson	Director of Football and Legal Affairs, Celtic
Gordon Thomson	Club Secretary, Clyde

Terms of Reference:

1. Player contracts (including the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme)
2. FIFA Registration Periods
3. Any necessary updates to SPFL and Scottish FA Rules & Regulations as a result of FIFA and/or UEFA circulars
4. Government legislation – including the impact on football of any actual or potential lifting of current restrictions
5. Any potential amendments to the competition rules and regulations of the Scottish FA and SPFL; for example, in relation to possible modified competition formats for Season 2020/21
6. Any regulatory implications arising from proposals or recommendations from other sub-groups
   
   Grassroots (chaired by Thomas McKeown)

Name	Club / Organisation
Tom Anderson	Scottish Youth FA
Lorna Cameron	Scottish Women’s Football
John Campbell	Scottish Welfare FA
Robert Craig	Para-Football Scotland
John Gold	Scottish Schools FA
Andrew Gould	Head of Football Development, Scottish FA
John Greenhorn	East of Scotland League
Colin Holden	South of Scotland League
Tom Johnston	Scottish Junior FA

Rod Petrie, Scottish FA President and Chair of the Joint Response Group: “I am pleased by the response among members to assist the Joint Response Group in planning for the safe and expedient return of Scottish football when it is deemed safe to do so by the government and medical experts.

“The First Minister published a framework to assist in the country’s recovery from COVID-19, including preparing for the transition from lockdown or any easing thereof and adjusting to a ‘new normal’.

“We will continue to adhere to the government advice but equally we have an obligation to undertake the necessary preparatory work to ensure the national game is ready to return at the appropriate time.

“We are also mindful of the crucial role football can play as the national sport during the recovery period and have noted the proposed return of the Premier League in England by the Department of Culture Media and Sport in England ‘to raise the spirit of the nation’.

“We look forward to the opportunity to discuss football’s timeframe in Scotland in early course as part of the Scottish Government’s virtual roundtable for sporting bodies announced today.”