TWO of Scotland’s top football administrators have branded the decision to delay the return of football supporters to stadiums as “political, rather than clinical.”

SFA vice president Mike Mulraney and SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster appeared on BBC Sportsound today to discuss the current state of Scottish football.

UEFA announced this week that supporters will be allowed into stadiums for both international and European matches with up to 30% of capacity – if it comes under government ruling.

But with Boris Johnson and Nicola Sturgeon taking the decision to postpone the return of fans in Britain, Scotland does not fall under this bracket.

Doncaster believes that will leave Celtic and Rangers at a "competitive disadvantage" to the rest of the continent when they enter the group stages of the Europa League.

He said: "That is one of the concerns we have.

"With Rangers and Celtic back in the Europa League group playing against teams in Portugal, France, Poland and Belgium.

"There will be fans in those stadiums, fans cheering on their crowds.

"So our clubs Celtic and Rangers will clearly be at a big disadvantage not having fans in our stadiums and that can't be right.

"We have got to be doing whatever we can to support our teams in Europe and support the Scotland team in what could be a historic few weeks.

"We need to be doing whatever we can to get fans back in as soon as possible.

"Let me give you an example - The UK government does not allow fans into the English Premier League or into English football league grounds in the fresh air.

"But the Royal Albert Hall is now allowed to admit 57% of its capacity in an indoor venue. Anyone who tells me that is not a political choice, I am sorry but I don't accept that.

"We know other countries are able to accommodate fans in stadium. Belgium, 1,000. France, 5000. Poland, 50% of stadium capacity. Uefa, 30% of stadium capacity. It is clearly being done well across Europe at the moment. The UK at the moment is clearly the outlier."

Mulraney then claimed that the decision to stop fans coming in is “science driven” but is a “political decision rather than a clinical one”.

He continued: "I heard Jason Leitch saying this was about choices. Well, this is clearly a political choice and not a clinical one that we have had our fans restricted from accessing the game.

"The government has a very, very difficult path. Six hundred fans in a stadium that takes 60000, outside, all facing the same way, is probably far less risk than allowing people into a restaurant and an aeroplane.

"We've got to accept that is the current government position but I think it is fair that we ask them if that is in line with the current position on clubs in Europe."