Dundee's request to postpone Aberdeen match rejected by SPFL

Dundee have revealed that they have had a request to postpone their match against Aberdeen rejected by the SPFL.

A member of the squad has tested positive for Covid and, with a further five players self-isolating after contact, the club say their ability to put out a team has been seriously hit.

An application was made to the league to ask for the match to be rescheduled at a later date but Dundee have been told they have to travel to Pittodrie and play the game.

SPFL rules state teams must go ahead with matches if they have 13 fit players, including a goalkeeper, as long as 10 players in the squad are over 18.

Dundee say they head north with 14 players, though three are goalkeepers.

A club statement read: “We can confirm that our scheduled testing for Covid-19 this morning returned a positive case.

“As a result, five further players have been identified as close contacts.

“With these players missing and our current injury situation, we took the decision to request a postponement of today’s fixture against Aberdeen.

“The postponement request has been rejected by the SPFL and we travel with a squad of 14 players which includes 3 goalkeepers.

“A further member of the first-team coaching staff is also isolating.”

After the league decided to move the winter break forward to lessen the impact of the Covid restrictions on attendances, SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster said that the fixture calendar had no more room for rescheduled matches and that clubs would have to do their utmost to play games when they are scheduled.