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East Fife boss furious at accusation by Clyde with match called off 15 minutes before kick off

East Fife boss Darren Young was left furious at an accusation by Clyde with their match called off 15 minutes before kick off.

He says it was ‘scandalous’ that his players were asked to put their health and livelihoods on the line to play the fixture.

The League One game was called off at the last minute on Tuesday night after a positive Covid result was announced in the Bully Wee squad.

Clyde have claimed that East Fife refused to play against them after a positive test for coronavirus – despite authorities giving the go-ahead.

East Fife assistant Tony McMinn confirmed the news as he wrote on Twitter: “The club have looked after every player and member of staff throughout this pandemic and have done so again tonight.

“Did Scotland v England 19s not get postponed for the same thing? No point in taking risks.”

An East Fife club statement read: “We can confirm that tonight’s SPFL League One match against Clyde at Broadwood was postponed.

“The club were only made aware of a positive test for COVID-19 within the Clyde camp as the players were entering the field of play before kick-off. We understand the test was taken on Saturday with the result only confirmed around 20 minutes before kick-off.

“After discussion between the SPFL and representatives of both clubs, we were informed that the match could go ahead but having consulted with the management and players, the Board of Directors fully back the decision not to proceed with the fixture.

“Finally, we would like to pass on our best wishes for a speedy recovery to the player involved.

“The club will be making no further comment until we have discussed the matter in detail with the SPFL.”

Clyde claimed they had been given the green light from the Joint Response Group to play out the fixture.

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Yet Young says to his knowledge this was not the case and the JRG wasn’t consulted with as he released a hard-hitting statement on his personal Twitter account to clear up East Fife’s side of the story.

He wrote: “After last night’s event’s at Broadwood I feel it’s only right that I come out and clear up our decision not to play and put our players and staff at unnecessary risk.

“Firstly, I would like to wish the player involved a speedy recovery.

“A member of the Clyde team received a positive COVID result after being tested on Saturday with the results only coming back 30mins before the start of last night’s game.

“We only found this out as we took to the field to kick-off.

“By this point the player had already been in the changing room, done the wearm up and mixed with all the other players.

“He had also travelled up and down on the bus to Peterhead and played some part in that game [they had two buses with half the team of each us].

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“As a club we were then asked the question if we wanted to play. To my knowledge the JRG weren’t consulted or spoken to unlike what is said in a certain statement.

“I consulted the players/chairman and straight away it was complete no no.

“Several of the players’ partners are heavily pregnant and quite rightly refused to put their families as risk.

“Several other boys are self employed and were also unwilling to take the risk as if they were to isolate due to track and trace they would then have loss of earnings along with being unable to play for us on Thursday or next Tuesday.

“I find it scandalous that all through the past year and a bit where safety and the well being of the players/staff etc is paramount we were put in a position and asked if we wanted to or were willing to take that risk…!!!

“We have adhered to all the rules and regulations throughout this period like everyone else and unfortunately now this is the second time it’s happened to us against Clyde this season.

” I 100 per cent will always back my players especially when it comes to a situation where their health and well being are put on the line.”

Clyde wrote: “The club can confirm that, following a positive Covid-19 test in the squad tonight, a review was conducted by the Joint Response Group, who subsequently confirmed that tonight’s Clyde v East Fife match could go ahead.

“However, East Fife took the decision not to fulfil the fixture, leaving the referee with no option but to postpone the match.

“The club will make further comment when possible.”

Fans reacted as the East Fife boss was left furious at the accusation by Clyde with their match called off 15 minutes before kick off…

@OfficialZed: The players’ welfare comes first. Well done EF.

@emmaq1983: You take care of your players first and foremost 👏🏻

@Moir88: Shambles the test result took that long to come through. Can’t blame East Fife tho

@Cowden81: Well done in putting the health of your players and their partners first. Big question is how it took so late for the positive result to comeback.

@lanarkutd: Are the football authorities wanting to spread this virus to more people as usual they have got it wrong

@BirkieBoy2: Difficult to understand why the test result was only announced just before kickoff (if it had been taken over 3 days previously) AND why the Clyde squad is not in self-isolation. @spfl should throw the book at them this time, surely? Lucky to avoid points deduction last time…

@AllyFerguson1: Who the fucks in that response group?

@Jimmy_Jazz1985: Clyde really are an absolutely despicable football club. Paying a rapist and a racist is bad enough but attempting to infect opposition players with a deadly virus is biological warfare. Well done East Fife for standing your ground.

@jackhutchison55: We didnt though did we? JRG were informed and they told the clubs to go ahead with the game. JRG should’ve said the game was off but pushed ahead to save face

@Jimmy_Jazz1985: East Fife pulled out because some of their players have pregnant partners ffs. Clyde were literally attempting to murder unborn babies ffs. There’s no defending that!

@Alex_Murray92: I’ve seen some mad remarks during this pandemic but that is absolute lunacy that statement.

@glorydaysofgold: @ClydeFC how to do a statement, with dignity, FYI

@JDHibs: & East Fife fight back… This will be fun for a few days….

@bayviewboy: The COVID protocols of Clyde FC need looked at as they are claiming they only received results at 6.40. When were these tests undertaken ? Was the player positive when travelling back from P/head on Sat ? Why should EF players put self and families at risk?

@stevenhislop9: Should the Clyde players not be isolating then if one of their players is positive and from when he was tested positive? 🤔 Or am I missing something. Hope the player recovers though as he is the priority and hopefully not infected others

@DyceRobbie: What a shambles of a statement, welfare of players and their families should always come first

@StevieMorton59: Seems to me the correct thing to have done would be both teams agree not play the game rather than pin the blame on one. Hopefully game can be rescheduled.

@IAM808: Were the @ClydeFC players happy to play knowing a teammate has provided a positive test? Is a game of football more important to them than their family members & fellow professionals? Surely @ClydeFC as a club understand & support @EastFifeFC decision? @PFAScotland get involved

@smuggfifer: So which part of the Stay Safe message did the JRG not get? First and foremost is the player concerneds health, and I sincerely hope he is fine and recovers. But to expect another 22+ players and 3 officials, to risk taking Covid back to family and friends, wasn’t an option.

@stevenhislop9: @EastFifeFC making the right call. Clyde should have agreed also as that statement looks like passing the buck. Hopefully the health of the player is OK which is the main thing

@cootie112: Absolute shambles of a statement

@HendryIreland: Incredible statement 😂 keep the supporters away from broadwood and covering up your own words to please the bully wee fans 🤣

@661_aac: Who ever made the decision to play the game should be sacked.People are dying of this terrible virus #SFA #COVID19

@Jimmy759173011: Why should east fife have to play ? If one player has tested positive and been with his team mates then surely the whole team have to self isolate

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