It was the Welsh Government that went first confirming late on Monday night that all sporting events would be played behind-closed-doors from Boxing Day onwards in the battle to control the new Omicron variant of COVID-19.
Yesterday, Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon followed that lead with limits of a maximum of 500 people for all outdoor events.
So far, for Yeovil Town and the National League, the only impact comes in North Wales where our Hollywood pals at Wrexham are forced to play their Boxing Day match at home to Solihull Moors without supporters.
Former Glovers’ midfielder and now Wrexham long throw chucker Ben Tozer left political leaders in no doubt about his opinion on how football was being treated against other ‘leisure pursuits’:
Am I right in saying: I could go from our game, outside, with no fans allowed, on Boxing Day… straight to an indoor nightclub, full of people. ??♂️
— Ben Tozer (@tozer_ben) December 21, 2021
So that just leaves Boris, whose credibility to ask anyone to follow the rules is seriously questionable. England’s Prime Minister said on Tuesday evening that there would be no further restrictions but “naturally we can’t rule out any further measures after Christmas.”
It does rather feel like a prize turkey on Christmas Eve being told “you’re my favourite” by a farmer brandishing a meat cleaver, doesn’t it?
As ever, the best place to find out what is likely to happen is in the newspapers, and the smart money (if you’ll pardon the expression!) is further restrictions.
The Times reported on Tuesday that it’s expected there will be a ‘circuit breaker’ introduced from December 28 – yep, the same day our seagull bothering ‘friends’ from W*ymouth had been due back at Huish Park.
If England follow the rest of mainland Britain in restricting sporting events, there seems every chance that we’ll lose a pay day from both a derby and an FA Cup third round tie with AFC Bournemouth on January 8.
Let’s hope that the BBC or ITV wake up to the fact there’s life outside the Premier League and realise that neither Manchester United nor Aston Villa need the cash from a televised match – and you can watch Cristiano Ronaldo fall over and complain about his hair every weekend!
Alternatively, let’s follow Mark Little‘s lead and claim we’re all having a business meeting – if it’s good enough for Boris and his pals, it’s good enough for us, right?!
One of my favourite business meetings. Cheese and wine everywhere! https://t.co/XIRZ4SQB79
— Mark Little (@Litts_2) December 21, 2021