Inverness Caledonian Thistle to carry on as normal as Ross County games postponed as winter break for Premiership brought forward

Inverness Caledonian Thistle will play in front of attendances no more than 500 people after the lower leagues voted to carry on playing under Government restrictions on crowds.

But Ross County will have two matches postponed after the Premiership agreed to bring the winter break forward.

The Scottish Professional Football League have confirmed Premiership fixtures scheduled for Wednesday, December 29, Saturday, January 2 and Sunday, January 3 have been postponed to 17/18 January and 1/2 February respectively.

Clubs held discussions with the SPFL today on bringing the winter break forward to avoid the impact on capacities in affected games.

It means Ross County's games against Motherwell scheduled for Wednesday, December 29 and Aberdeen on Sunday, January 2 have been postponed.

But Boxing Day Premiership fixtures including Hearts versus Ross County will go ahead as planned on Sunday

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

7.45pm Celtic v Hibernian

Tuesday 18 January

7.45pm Aberdeen v Rangers

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

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

Tuesday 1 February

7.45pm Dundee v Dundee United

7.45pm Hibernian v Heart of Midlothian

7.45pm Livingston v St Johnstone

7.45pm Ross County v Aberdeen

7.45pm St Mirren v Motherwell

Wednesday 2 February

7.45pm Celtic v Rangers

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