Scottish Football (SPFL, Scottish Cup, Bet Fred Cup, Tunnock’s Caramel Wafer Challenge Cup)

Sport
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SPFL POSTPONES TWO ROUNDS OF CINCH PREMIERSHIP FIXTURES

The Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) has today announced that the 29 December and 2/3 January cinch Premiership fixture rounds have been postponed to 17/18 January and 1/2 February respectively.

The Boxing Day cinch Premiership fixtures will go ahead as planned, including St Johnstone v Celtic, which is being broadcast live on Sky Sports.

cinch Championship, League 1 and League 2 clubs were consulted as to whether they wished to postpone fixtures in their divisions, but they did not wish to do so.

Neil Doncaster, SPFL Chief Executive, said: “We have had intense and positive discussions with all cinch SPFL clubs over the past 24 hours, since the announcement by the Scottish Government of a three-week period of restrictions on fans attending matches. We have advised our clubs that any postponements increase the risk of further disruption to an already highly congested fixture calendar.

"There are mixed views amongst cinch Premiership clubs about what to do for the best. However, a majority favour the postponement of fixtures to give a chance for games scheduled to be played over the festive period to be played in front of fans, once the three-week period of restrictions comes to an end. The SPFL Board has agreed to postpone the 29 December and New Year cinch Premiership fixture cards.

“cinch Championship, League 1 and League 2 clubs voted to continue playing through the Government restrictions and we look forward to their festive fixtures over the next fortnight.

“We would like to place on record our sincere thanks to Sky Sports and Police Scotland for their flexibility in accommodating these changes and to all cinch SPFL clubs for their clear, positive and constructive feedback as we work together to get through the challenges posed by Covid-19.

The cinch Premiership fixtures scheduled for 29 December will move as follows:

Monday 17 January
Celtic v Hibernian (7.45pm)

Tuesday 18 January
Aberdeen v Rangers (Sky Sports, 7.45pm)
Dundee United v St Mirren (7.45pm)
Heart of Midlothian v St Johnstone (7.45pm)
Livingston v Dundee (7.45pm)
Ross County v Motherwell (7.45pm)

The cinch Premiership fixtures scheduled for 2/3 January will move as follows:

Tuesday 1 February
Dundee v Dundee United (7.45pm)
Hibernian v Heart of Midlothian (Sky Sports, 7.45pm)
Livingston v St Johnstone (7.45pm)
Ross County v Aberdeen (7.45pm)
St Mirren v Motherwell (7.45pm)

Wednesday 2 February
Celtic v Rangers (Sky Sports, 7.45pm)

Note
The Celtic v Hibernian match has been scheduled for Monday 17 January due to the Hibernian v Cove Rangers Scottish Cup tie on Thursday 20 January.

602

Lovely.

603

That’s excellent. A home derby under the lights is a rare occurrence.

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604

I’m surprised the Glasgow polis haven’t vetoed an evening old firm game.

605

That controversial Offensive Behaviour at Football Act legislation was introduced after the last night derby, if I recall correctly. The cup replay win back in 2010 or 2011 after 10-men Celtic came behind to draw 2-2 at Ibrox. Brown scoring and celebrating in Diouf’s face the first day. I watched that in The Players’ Lounge with @Rocko before it was shut down after a few attempted murders outside it. Mark Wilson knocking Papac out with the winner in the replay. Huns imploding and McCoist and Lennon squaring up to each other at full time.

I was at another memorable midweek night game with Rocko in April 2008, which had been rearranged from new year following Phil O’Donnell’s death. Vennegoor of Hesselink with the 94th minute winner and I’ve never experienced a stadium reverberate like it did. We beat them 10 days later at Celtic Park in a Sunday lunchtime game and clawed back an 8 point deficit to win the league.

606

I was at the infamous one back in about 1998 or so, when it was a late afternoon kick off on a bank holiday weekend. A lad fell off the middle tier, there were 180 hospital admissions for assault, and Hugh Dallas aided the huns to a soul destroying win.
It was absolute bedlam.

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607

Wasn’t he defiantly shaking his fist as he was being carted off on a stretcher?! :joy:

608

He was. I think it was a hun, but I was so sickened by the result I drew a veil over the whole sorry affair and avoided watching or reading about it anywhere thereafter.

609

Pretty sure it was a bhoy who rushed down to the front to abuse Dallas and toppled over.

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610

I remember him waving on the stretcher. I thought he was waving at the crowd. It doesn’t actually look that much of a fall, but it’s a long way.
I always thought it was really lucky someone underneath wasn’t badly hurt.
Your man seemed happy out.
Iirc Hugh Dallas got hit with a coin, when an 18 inch block would have been preferable.

611

Think that was the day that Glasgow Rangers hammered Glasgow Celtic at Celtic Park to clinch the league. The home fans couldn’t take their beating and generally rioted and made a disgrace of themselves.

612

Hun media trying to cook up a bit of interest in hun players. Patterson who isn’t even a nailed on starter linked with Everton and Aribo with Leicester. Morelos isn’t their go-to player anymore

613

Is there any player in the jock league that would fetch 10 million down south ???

614

Jota, kyogo, scales, mcgregor

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615

Patterson will be a snip at 10 million. Going to be a top player.

616

I doubt there’s a player in the EPL that would fetch 10 million in Scotland. After the disappointment of the likes of Duffy, I don’t see many of the Scottish teams shopping in the Premier League this January.

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617

A loan with an option to buy would seem the more prudent approach when shopping down there now

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618

Patterson to Everton for £10-12m apparently.

Seems an excellent deal for a back up right back who hasn’t played much football. Will certainly ease their financial problems until the end of the season.

619

Everton would be as well firing Rafa now before he spunks that cash. Something like only 2 SPFL starts this season…

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620

Montgomery has played nearly as much football as him.