St Johnstone v Aberdeen postponed after positive Covid tests

Aberdeen’s match against St Johnstone on Saturday has been called off after two Dons players tested positive for Covid-19.

The game has been rescheduled and will take place in Perth on Thursday, August 20, kicking off at 7.30pm.

Meanwhile, Aberdeen’s clash with Livingston intended for Saturday, August 22, has been pushed back 24 hours until Sunday, August 23 instead.

The two players who tested positive are self-isolating for a period of 10 days, while another six will do so for 14 days due to being in close proximity with the others.

On Thursday evening the joint response group’s plan was for the game to go ahead this weekend, meaning the north-east side would have been without eight players for the match.

However, the match – which was due to kick off at McDiarmid Park at 12.30pm on Saturday – was postponed following a request from the Scottish Government.

Scottish football’s coronavirus joint response group said: “A request was received from Scottish Government – and agreement reached – to postpone Saturday’s Scottish Premiership match against St Johnstone.

“There is an evolving public health outbreak in Aberdeen and the minister conveyed the need for additional work to provide further assurance around Aberdeen FC’s adherence to the agreed protocols.”

Aberdeen chairman Dave Cormack said the situation is being dealt with “internally with the seriousness it deserves.”

He said: “With the pressure over this season’s fixtures, and the fact that we caused this problem, we were fully prepared to play the game tomorrow. We are very grateful that the decision has been to postpone, rather than forfeit the game.

“I took the opportunity yesterday to apologise to both football and health authorities, and with our fellow Premiership clubs today.

“The clinical decision last night from the JRG that it was safe to play underlines the confidence the football authorities have in the robustness of our procedures and protocols. Regrettably, what has happened in the last few days has undermined all the hard work that has gone into keeping our players and staff safe. We are now dealing with this internally with the seriousness it deserves.

“In the meantime, I’d like to reassure the relevant bodies, our fans and everyone associated with the club that our already rigorous measures are being forensically scrutinised and that no stone will be left unturned in ensuring that no-one is under any doubt about what must be adhered to.”