Caley Thistle deny "false" allegation they broke Covid-19 laws by bussing in Glasgow stewards for Saturday's match

Inverness Caley Thistle has emphatically denied “malicious” claims the club breached Covid-19 laws by bussing in matchday stewards from a tier four coronavirus hotspot.

A solitary anonymous complaint lodged to several media outlets, Police Scotland and the SFA on Monday alleged the Championship club’s actions had put spectators at risk during Saturday’s match against Raith Rovers.

The story then made back page headlines in one national tabloid newspaper.

The weekend league game in the tier one Highlands heralded the return of 300 fans to the Caledonian Stadium for the first time in eight months.

Supporters wearing face-masks were temperature-checked as they entered the ground and kept socially-distanced in the north and south stands throughout the afternoon.

The club is adamant it broke no rules by using the Glasgow-based security firm and stressed there were no suitable alternative companies based in the Highlands or Aberdeen-shire.

Stewarding is classed as essential work under Scottish Government guidelines, meaning it was entirely lawful for staff to travel from the Central Belt to the tier one Highlands.

The club said the security firm used some locally-based employees, but needed additional personnel from the Glasgow area to make up requisite numbers.

Caley Thistle say they have received written assurances from the Scottish Football Association and league body the SPFL that there was no issue of blame or pending investigation.

As well as alleging the breach in Covid-19 travel restrictions, the supporter complained of poor social-distancing among supporters with fans “corralled like cattle” while entering the stadium.

The fan also claimed temperature-checking equipment had failed.

The club is expected to issue a strongly-worded statement refuting the allegations later today.

But a Caley Thistle response to the allegations, sent to the police and football authorities and seen by this newspaper, reads: “Everyone at ICTFC takes our responsibility extremely seriously.

“We were also aware of our duty to the rest of the game to make sure we carefully adhered to the guidelines laid out for Saturday’s return of fans.

“It is worth noting that the SPFL match delegate took time to personally thank our senior staff for the excellent delivery.

“In response to the solitary, anonymous, facetious and quite frankly malicious email ... the club completely refutes all of the allegations.”

The response made it clear that details of the security company recruited had been put before all relevant bodies last Wednesday.

It added: “Police Scotland were aware of this and offered no objection as it does not breach any guidelines.

“Our security staff are essential workers. We cannot legally operate an event without them. To be clear, the security provider, and therefore the club, followed the rules as stated.

“The club has received the most positive feedback (on) the quality of stewarding via social media and e-mail.

“Our temperature testing equipment worked perfectly well throughout the day.

“It is appalling that one person should anonymously make such false allegations. They are without any substance.”

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