FOOTBALL matches in Scotland are set to be limited to a crowd of 500 due to the spread of Omicron.

New restrictions mean that all outdoor events will be limited to just 500 to try and halt the spread of the virus.

Omicron is now firmly established as the dominant strain of coronavirus in Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon has said.

Updating MSPs, the First Minister said 62.9 per cent of cases showed the S-gene dropout.

The move has been made to cut down transmission of the Omicron coronavirus variant and because “large events put an additional burden on emergency services”.

The restrictions do not apply to private events such as weddings.

Ms Sturgeon said: “This will of course make sports matches, including football, effectively spectator-free over this three-week period.

“And it will also mean that large-scale Hogmanay celebrations, including that planned here in our capital city, will not proceed.

“I know how disappointing this will be for those looking forward to these events, and for the organisers of them.”