Coronavirus

ZENIT St Petersburg have offered fans a free Covid-19 vaccination if they attend home matches.
The Russian league champions made the announcement before yesterday’s 4-0 win over Akhmat Grozny.

Zenit are offering free Covid jabs to fans before each home game

Supporters were able to have the Sputnik V vaccine, which is 91 per cent effective against coronavirus, injected by a medical professional before kick-off.
And for those who missed out or opted against receiving the jab, it will still be available for the remainder of the Russian season.
Fans who do want the vaccination will first receive approval before visiting a mobile station located inside the Gazprom Arena, which had already started giving jabs to locals earlier this month.
A club statement confirmed: “The Sputnik V vaccine will be available to all visitors to the match aged over 18.

“Please bring your passport and national health card with you.
“You’ll be required to be seen by a medical professional for approval before the vaccination.”
Whether there is plenty of uptake among Zenit fans remains to be seen.
Despite having the seventh-most Covid deaths in the world, only 30 per cent of Russians told the Levada Centre they would look to be vaccinated.

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The Sputnik V jab was also brought into circulation ahead of the final trial data, although The Lancet claims it has since proven to have 91 per cent efficiency.
Zenit’s offer is sure to have the backing of top government brass.
Sport is a huge part of Russian culture, with more than 17,000 regularly attending each Zenit home game.
Speaking in October, Sports minister Oleg Matytsin said: “We will do everything possible so that sport is not left without spectators and so that this atmosphere does not leave the stadiums and our lives.”

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PAUL Scholes appears to have breached lockdown AGAIN as he laughs at his pal adjusting his “plums” during an indoor workout.
The former Manchester United star, 46, uploaded footage which shows him hysterically laughing while holding dumbbells in a home gym.

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Paul Scholes was in hysterics during his workoutCredit: Instagram

He posted the clip on his Instagram storyCredit: Instagram
Scholes uploaded the clip to his Instagram story and covered his friend’s private parts with a plum emoji for his 600,000 followers to see.
He can be seen squatting 12 times with his friend Andy Hulme telling him “that’s six” halfway through his routine.
The pair are long-term friends and are pictured together a lot on social media.

Under current coronavirus lockdown rules, Brits are banned from socialising with other households indoors – unless they’ve formed a support bubble.
Gyms still remain closed but can reopen in stage two of lockdown easing measures on April 12.
It is not the first time the England legend has appeared to breach lockdown rules.
LOCKDOWN ‘BREACH’
Just last month he was being probed by cops after going hiking with four pals.

Once again, he had uploaded a clip to Instagram showing him sharing tea and snacks with mates on a walk in the Dovestone Reservoir, Greater Manchester.
In the clip, Scholes’ friends were seen laughing and eating sandwiches at the beauty spot as the ex-midfielder handed out soup from a flask. 
A spokeswoman for Greater Manchester Police said at the time: “GMP has been made aware of a post on social media which may show a breach of COVID-legislation.
“This shall be examined further and we will assess whether any police action needs to be taken.”

Last month, Scholes was seen out hiking with a group of four mates in a clip uploaded to InstagramCredit: Instagram

In the clip, Scholes’ friends are seen eating sandwiches at the beauty spot as the star midfielder hands out soup in a cupCredit: Instagram

The Manchester United legend was seen apparently breaching rules last monthCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Under current lockdown regulations, Brits can only meet one other person outdoors for exercise. 
Meeting more than one household is strictly banned, and you must not travel beyond your local area for exercise. 
The midfielder has already been caught flouting Covid rules multiple times.
Scholes’ neighbours also complained after his grown-up kids threw a new year’s fancy dress party with a gang of pals – breaching virus regulations.
The Man United legend’s daughter Alicia, 19, put pictures on social media of her posing with eight pals at Paul’s mansion in Oldham, which was then in Tier 4 restrictions.
NYE PARTY
The star’s £3.5m home was also the subject of a Covid-19 scandal last summer when a seven-hour party for his son Arron’s 21st was hosted there.
Scholes was spoken to by cops after the incident in August, which happened soon after indoor social visits were banned across swathes of the North following a spike in infections.
Former England star Scholes, 45 — now a BT Sport pundit — had posed in a “Lockdown Live” T-shirt with DJ Zac Caulcutt, while dozens of youngsters ignored social distancing rules.
In September, the same mansion was used to hold a 20-man football tournament. 
Scholes filmed son Arron and up to 20 other players taking part and put footage online with the caption: “Just what I need tonight, Arron and his bell*** mates.”

From 17 May, at the earliest, six people or two households can meet indoors.
On this same date indoor hospitality opens, including pubs, restaurants and cinemas.
The Sun Online has contacted Scholes’ representatives and GMP for comment regarding the new video.

Paul Scholes flouted lockdown rules last year by throwing a seven-hour party at his home

Police visited the Man United legend after he threw an illegal house party in Covid crisis area Oldham back in August

The Man United legend also hosted a football tournament in his back garden at his Oldham mansion last September

Last month, Scholes’ neighbours complained after his grown-up kids threw a new year’s fancy dress party with a gang of pals

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NICOLA STURGEON has blasted ‘disgraceful and selfish’ Rangers fans who flouted Covid restrictions to party at the weekend – adding the club could have done more to stop them.
Supporters ignored pandemic measures to gather at Ibrox, George Square and Auchenhowie across Saturday and Sunday to lap up their title success.

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Nicola Sturgeon blasted Rangers and their fans for flouting Covid rules to celebrate their Scottish Premiership title

Fans flouted lockdown rules with their celebrations after winning the titleCredit: Getty Images – Getty
This week the Ibrox club have faced government criticism for their handling of the situation and on Monday, Deputy First Minister John Swinney hit out at the club for a ‘lack of leadership’.
But Rangers blasted back with a letter to the First Minister, accusing her of a ‘dereliction of duty’.
She has not held back during her statement to parliament on Tuesday, adding her voice to the criticism of Gers bosses and their fans.

Sturgeon said: “I share, the anger and despair that the vast majority of people – including, I am sure, the majority of football fans – felt at the weekend towards crowds of supporters flagrantly breaching rules that the rest of us are following every day at great personal cost.
“The behaviour witnessed at the weekend was disgraceful and selfish.
“It is natural that some of the anger people feel is directed towards the government and the police – I absolutely understand that.
“But those at fault are those who breached the rules.

“How the police manage situations like this is, of course, an operational matter – government cannot and should not direct policing operations.

Rangers fans celebrated across Glasgow, including outside Ibrox, after winning the titleCredit: Getty Images – Getty

“I will though be speaking to the Chief Constable later this afternoon to consider what further action might be necessary to avoid any repeat of the unacceptable scenes we saw at the weekend.
“However, no one should doubt the deeply invidious situation that behaviour like this puts the police in as they discharge their responsibility to protect public order and safety.
“We will also be having further discussions this week with the football authorities and with certain football clubs who, in my view, need to show much more leadership.
“Let me be clear, in making these comments, I don’t care about the colour of the shirts.
“I said some harsh things about Celtic’s decisions at the start of this year. 
“And as far as I am concerned in this case, Rangers Football Club did not do nearly enough to help avoid this situation arising at the weekend.”

Hoards of fans flocked together after Rangers finally got their hands on the league title againCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Sturgeon continued: “The fact is that elite sport is being allowed to continue just now so that fans – deprived of so much else in life right now – can continue to watch and support their teams.
“It would be deeply unfair if a selfish minority spoil that for the majority, and I hope that will not be the case.
“But given the fragility of the situation we face right now, we cannot simply turn a blind eye to what happened at the weekend and we won’t.
“We will report back in due course – and certainly ahead of the Old Firm match scheduled for March 21 – on the various discussions taking place this week.
“Finally on this subject, I understand why people watching what unfolded at the weekend might wonder why they are bothering doing the right thing.
“The fact is the vast majority of us are doing the right thing because know it matters – for our own health and the health of our loved ones.”

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