Inverness Caley Thistle goalkeeper Mark Ridgers hits out at diabolical rules
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Inverness Caledonian Thistle goalkeeper Mark Ridgers has pleaded with authorities to revisit the rule that players cannot shower at football grounds.
The 30-year-old was on the pitch for all 90 minutes against Elgin City last Saturday when heavy rain persisted throughout, leaving him drenched.
Now faced with the prospect of a similar scenario being followed by a bus journey back to the Highlands from Edinburgh after tonight’s opening Betfred Cup group game at Hearts, Ridgers says the current guidelines could do more harm than good.
“It’s crazy, even taking Covid-19 out it’s putting our health at risk,” he insisted.
“We will get a cold, or in the worst cases pneumonia. It’s hard to get our heads around it when you see health clubs and gyms, where people can shower.
“If it’s freezing cold and soaking wet, they’re asking us to then sit on a bus for three hours until we get home.
“It’s diabolical to think that this is acceptable.
“We’re the ones who are being tested every day, following the guidelines, keeping ourselves away from the public to try and avoid catching the virus, but they’re willing to risk our health travelling on a bus.
“We are guinea pigs, that’s what it is. We are being tested to see what’s right and what’s wrong, what works and what doesn’t work.
“It’s crazy, I’ve spoken to players at other clubs and they think so too, so I really hope that it’s looked at like we are human beings.”
Ridgers will be returning to his former club to kick off the competitive season tonight, but it will not be Tynecastle like he remembers it.
Usually lauded as one of the best atmospheres in the country, Hearts and ICT will instead battle with no fans.
In many ways, Hearts will be strong favourites going into the tie – they have been back training for longer, they have played more friendly matches and have strengthened considerably over the summer.
However, while Ridgers thinks tonight’s result should not define expectations for the season, he does think the empty stands could play into ICT’s hands.
“I don’t think we can be judged on tonight, or through the whole group stage really,” he reasoned.
“What the game will do is give us a rough idea of where we are, how far behind Hearts we are in our preparation.
“Time will tell. They have been back for a long time and have played a few games as well.
“Tynecastle is one that when the fans are there, the atmosphere is incredible and it does make a huge difference.
“Hopefully if there is an advantage to be had with the likes of Hearts and Dundee not having fans, it will be at the beginning and it benefits us.”
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