Scotland's clinical director Jason Leitch has hit back at Neil Doncaster and Mike Mulraney over their claim that the decision to lock fans out of stadiums is "political".

SFA vice president Mike Mulraney and SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster joined forces on BBC Sportsound, where they both took aim at the Scottish Government for their handling of the fan lockout. 

Doncaster also claimed that both Celtic and Rangers will now be at a “competitive disadvantage” when they enter the Europa League group stages later this month, after UEFA announced earlier this week that they would allow grounds to reopen at a reduced capacity for international and European matches. 

But with a stadium return in the UK on hold due to an increase in Covid-19, Scotland currently cannot follow the new ruling.  

On the decision Doncaster said: “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. 

“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.” 

Mulraney also argued that the government decision was "science driven" but a "political decision rather than a clinical one". 

He explained: "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." 

In response to the claims made by the SPFL and SFA bosses, national clinical director Jason Leitch hit back saying: “We reconsider it all the time. It is absolutely not a political decision, he is incorrect.

“It is a choice made by the clinicians and then the decision makers choose.

“You cannot open everything. Everybody who isn’t open wants open and who can blame them?

“If I ran a football club or a soft play or a casino or whatever I would want those things opened.

“You can’t have it all, that is the public health message, because then the virus would accelerate out of control.

“No country is back to normal, so you can’t be back to normal and therefore there are choices in there based on the clinical risk but also based on decision making.

“The decision makers have to choose inside a whole complex environment of clinical advice, economic advice, social advice, about what you can and can’t open.

“It is really hard I spoke to a lady on the radio this morning who is a stand up comedian about that sector not being open in Scotland.

“Again those are tough tough choices for that sector but the world is not normal. We cannot yet get back to normal.”