The SPFL doesn’t have any contingency plans for their season being cut short.
Fears over the Coronavirus has resulted in Italian league matches being played behind closed doors while the Swiss government has banned all gatherings of more than 1,000 people resulting in the top flight football card being postponed.
Scotland has so far avoided any reported cases of the virus but the government has issued alerts with cases reported in the UK from people who have visited China, Italy and been on cruise ships.
The SPFL has ten more rounds of fixtures to play, including five post-split which will decide all of the major issues.
Scotland has a unique situation with 33 rounds of fixtures having to be played by the first weekend in April but there are a number of free midweeks in April and May if fixtures have to be re-arranged.
The Sun reports:
THERE is no specific provision in the SPFL rule book should coronavirus cut short the season, SunSport understands.
The Telegraph has reported that Liverpool could still miss out on the Premier League title should COVID-19 cause the English Premier League season to be put into cold storage before all 38 games are completed, even though they are 22 points clear.
And the same could apply north of the border, where Celtic are currently 12 points clear of Rangers at the top having played a game more, and seemingly on course for a ninth title in a row.
Should enough matches be cancelled to make completing the season impossible, the SPFL would be forced to convene emergency meetings to determine whether results from the matches played to that point are allowed to stand.
The same uncertainty, of course, would apply to relegation spots and the European places. League organisers have less wriggle room to extend the season because of Euro 2020, assuming it is able to proceed as currently planned.
For now, though, it remains resolutely business as usual in the Scottish league system.
Understandably reluctant to heighten fears or get into hypothetical scenarios, an SPFL spokesman said: “Whilst there have been no specific instructions from the health authorities in relation to SPFL matches, we will take full note of any guidance they provide.
“We are in regular contact with the Scottish Government and with our counterparts in the English Premier League and English Football League. We are also in dialogue with the European Leagues and continue to monitor the developing situation carefully.”
Celtic have 10 matches left to play in the SPFL and currently have a 12 point lead at the top of the table.
On Monday the UK Government will announce a range of measures to deal with the threat from the Coronavirus.
