Aberdeen player tests positive for Covid-19 - St Johnstone match in doubt

Pittodrie club forced to cancel training

An Aberdeen player has tested positive for Covid-19.

Aberdeen’s game with St Johnstone this weekend has been placed in doubt after a Pittodrie first-team player tested positive for Covid-19.

Training was cancelled on Thursday morning after the unnamed player’s initial positive test was confirmed by a follow-up NHS test.

The news follows lockdown restrictions having been played on the city after details about a cluster of cases traced to a bar emerged earlier this week.

All bars, cafes and restaurants in Aberdeen have now been ordered to close by the Scottish government. People have been told not to visit the city and those living in Aberdeen restricted to travelling no more than five miles.

Aberdeen are due to face St Johnstone in Perth on Saturday before hosting Hamilton Accies at Pittodrie on Wednesday. They kicked off their league campaign with a 1-0 home defeat against Rangers.

Premiership clubs have been given an exemption which has allowed them to resume training and play matches.

Under the terms of that exemption, players and team staff members are operating in a bubble and must undergo twice weekly testing to ensure any fresh outbreaks are swiftly caught and traced.

Despite the city being in lockdown, Scottish football’s Joint Response Group had been prepared to give the green light to Aberdeen playing on Saturday following talks with government health officials. But the latest news means this decision will have to be revisited.

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