SFA considers a winter shutdown

The Scottish Football Association is again examining a winter shutdown after the Jan. 8 match between St. Mirren and Rangers was postponed due to inclement weather.

The SFA last had a shutdown during the 2002-03 season, but clubs opted to scrap that because they believe it congested the schedule at other points, and thought it had an adverse impact on finances.

The SFA also cites negative reviews for a shutdown from fans and clubs that would rather have weekend contests.

SFA chief executive, Gordon Smith, has been a proponent of summer football.

"It's up to the leagues," Smith told the Scotsman.com. "I just feel we should be playing football in the best weather. The main reason I believe we don't have (a break) is to do with cash flow. But people should look at it from a point of view that cash will still flow over the same number of games, and surely in better weather more people will turn up.

"Only two countries in Europe don't have a winter shutdown – Scotland and England. Even Greece has a shutdown."

The winter weather could play havoc with an already revised schedule following the death of Motherwell's Phil O'Donnell. Celtic will have four matches in 12 days, while Rangers will have six midweek matches over the next seven weeks.

Source: euFootball.BIZ © Copyright 2006 - All rights reserved.