Highland football ruled offside by Coronavirus
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The Scottish Highland Football League today (March 13) suspended all its matches as covid-19 spread.
A statement issued to the Strathy read: "Please note that, in accordance with this morning's Scottish FA Directive, all football due to be played under the auspices of the Highland League is suspended until further notice.
"This takes immediate effect, starting with this weekend's matches."
It was particularly bad timing for the strath's stars.
Strathspey boss Gordy Nicolson had called on his side to take full advantage of their chance to close the gap on Huntly one place above them in the table
The two teams had been due to meet at Christie Park on Saturday.
Huntly came out of the weekend’s fixtures with a five-point and one-position advantage over the 13th-placed Jags.
The Black and Golds were hammered 7-0 away to Fraserburgh meaning that gap remained at five points but the Jags having five games in hand.
Strathspey Thistle had then been due to play two outstanding home games in quick succession bringing in vaulable income for the Grantown club.
The Highland League had announced re-arranged fixtures for weather postponements earlier this week.
The Jags had been scheduled to host Deveronvale (March 21) and then Fraserburgh (March 25) but these games will now remain as part of the backlog.
It all comes as advice on ticket reclamation is released by legal advisor Thomas Pertaia, with the World Health Organisation classifying the recent outbreak of COVID-19 as a pandemic.
Numerous travel bans have been confirmed along with the cancellation of thousands of public gatherings due to the rapid spread of the virus.
The English Premier League has announced the suspension of matches until April 3 April and UEFA announced that competitions including the Champions League and Europa League football matches that were due to be played on March 17 and 18 have been postponed because of the outbreak.
Attendees and organisers of major events including music concerts, industry conferences and sporting fixtures are taking a very cautious approach to large gatherings to help minimise the spread of infection and risk of exposure.
With hundreds of thousands of people affected by the cancellation and/or postponement of events, where does the law stand on refunds for the cost of tickets?
Mr Pertaia, Legal Advisor at DAS Law, offered some answers:
If I have booked tickets for an event that is now cancelled, will I automatically be entitled to a refund?
This would largely depend on where you purchased the ticket(s). If the ticket(s) were purchased from official sellers (primary sellers) you would generally be entitled to a refund if the event is cancelled. This would probably happen automatically but it is advisable to check the terms and conditions on the seller’s website.
A refund may also be available where tickets are purchased from ticket exchange and resale companies, however this may not be issued automatically and you should check the terms and conditions for clarification.
Where tickets are purchased from another individual (i.e. private sale) there is very little redress but it is worth checking with the event organiser if any remedies are offered.
If I have tickets to an event which has not been cancelled but I do not feel safe in large crowds due to the Coronavirus, can I ask for a refund?
Where the event has not been cancelled but you are understandably concerned attending the event, unfortunately there would generally be no right to a refund. However, it is worth contacting the ticket seller as you may be offered a credit note. You should also check the terms and conditions on your cancellation rights.
Can I claim the cost of incidental expenses (hotels/flights/train tickets etc.) for an event that has been cancelled due to the Coronavirus?
Unless the ticket you purchased included travel and accommodation as part of a complete package, you cannot generally claim these expenses.
If an event I have tickets for is cancelled and rescheduled but I now cannot make the new date, can I insist on a refund?
Where the tickets are purchased from a primary seller and the event is rescheduled, you would generally be entitled to a refund.
Where the tickets have been purchased from ticket exchange and resale companies you have limited rights and it would be advisable to check the terms and conditions.
I am due to attend an event on behalf of my employer/ for my work. The event is still scheduled to go ahead but I do not feel safe attending. Can my employer insist I attend and could there be any repercussions/disciplinary action if I refuse?
Employers owe duty of care to their employees and have to take appropriate steps to protect the health, safety and welfare of their workforce.
If it was considered safe to attend the event and employee unreasonably refuses to attend, this could lead to disciplinary action. Whether, the event is safe to attend would generally have to be looked at reasonably and objectively, however, if the employee has an underlying and ongoing medical condition, that should also be taken into account by their employer.
