SPFL official to hold talks with Celtic and Aberdeen after latest outrage, plus update on re-scheduled fixture
The rescheduling of the postponed game between Aberdeen and Celtic will depend on the availability of external factors from the two clubs.
That is the view of former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee Keith Hackett, who has exclusively told Football Insider that the re-arranged date for the cancelled fixture will have to fall in line with the availability of police and security.
This comes after Celtic fans were left seething with Aberdeen after their Pittodrie pitch failed the opening pitch inspection at 4pm on Wednesday afternoon, despite the game having been scheduled to get underway just four hours later.
Martin O’Neill’s men were due to continue their title pursuit in midweek, but will now have to wait until their meeting with Livingston on 11 February for their next chance to put more league points on the board.
Aberdeen and Celtic to consult fixtures official
Celtic’s clash with Aberdeen always had the potential to be threatened by the weather, after the Met Office issued a yellow weather warning across the north of Scotland for heavy snow throughout Tuesday and Wednesday.
In the end, it was a waterlogged pitch that ultimately left the game unplayable as referee Don Robertson’s 4pm inspection found that the ball would not bounce properly in certain areas.
The attention of the two clubs will quickly turn towards trying to find a suitable date for the fixture to be re-arranged, but Hackett was quick to stress that this goes far beyond the current schedule for just Aberdeen and Celtic.
“The Scottish Premiership has a fixtures official who will liaise with both teams to determine the re-schedule of the game,” Hackett exclusively told Football Insider.
“They will factor in police and security availability, plus the possibility of media involvement.”
Hackett expects Aberdeen to escape fine from Scottish FA
Hackett also told Football Insider on Wednesday that he expects Aberdeen to escape a fine from the Scottish FA, despite slamming them for their “poor organisation” of the postponement.
The former official made it clear that the Dons should have arranged for either Robertson or a top local referee to come and make an initial judgement on the Pittodrie pitch by noon.
However, he also revealed that he doesn’t expect the governing body to escalate the issue any further, despite the possibility of it falling under the grounds of a late postponement.
Hackett alsio suggested that the authorities themselves could have done more to liaise with Aberdeen and ensure that a decision was reached earlier.