Aberdeen’s Scottish Premiership match against St Johnstone on Saturday has been cancelled due to two Aberdeen players testing positive for covid-19 and a further six being requested to isolate.
Match report: Aberdeen 0 – 1 Rangers
After a meeting which took place today between Minister for Public Health and Sport Joe Fitzpatrick, the SFA and the SPFL, it has been decided the match between the Dons and the Saints will not go ahead as scheduled on Saturday.
Disappointment all round
“The Scottish Government is disappointed by the actions of these individuals who have put at risk the return of professional football in Scotland.”
The last 48 hours have been a whirlwind for the club and the city after murmurings began at midday on Wednesday that Aberdeen City could face lockdown due to a cluster of covid cases linked to a bar in the city centre. Then the First Minister announced Aberdeen City would be the first place in Scotland to go under a localised lockdown as of 5pm.
Aberdeen FC club chairman Dave Cormack looked tired and bleary eyed as he posted a video on Twitter in response to the incident involving eight of his players being made to isolate due to the outbreak, saying; “It’s been a long day.”
Mr Cormack said; “Like most of you I have gone through all of the emotions that goes with saving our club through a financial crisis.
“We don’t have all the facts. What I do know is that you and I, the board, all the dedicated staff at the club, the Trust and Derek and the players have worked tirelessly to reduce our income gap and at the same time lead the charge in the city region to help those struggling.
“I don’t know about you but I am far from perfect. We’re asking for your patience to give the affected players the space and time they need to make sure they are healthy.”
The Scottish government released a statement criticising the actions of the footballers involved in the breach.
A statement from Holyrood read; “The Scottish Government is disappointed by the actions of these individuals who have put at risk the return of professional football in Scotland.”
On Twitter a lot of supporters have vented their anger at the unprofessional behaviour of the players involved in the breach.
Opinion: Worth it?
Footballers are regularly under the spotlight, but these are exceptional circumstances where all type of behaviour by professional sports personnel will be jumped on even more so than in regular times.
We all want to let off steam but right now, is it worth the risk?
It’ll perhaps come as minor relief to Derek McInnes that he doesn’t have to face the trip to McDiarmid Park eight players down, however there are many questions still unanswered on the horizon.
Will Aberdeen’s games against Hamilton and Celtic go ahead – these games coming within the isolation period the players in question have been asked to take.
More pertinently, what will be the reaction from the supporters if and when they find out which players were involved? McInnes will not have to name a squad for Saturday which would have revealed the protocol breachers however the question will remain who was it who jeopardised the return of Scottish football?
Harry Jamshid Reporter Sports Pages 