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Saturday 31st December 2022

Derby matches on Monday

SPFL gearing up for full houses for New Year derbies for the first time in three seasons...

The SPFL is preparing to welcome full crowds to its New Year derbies for the first time in three years - with around 100,000 supporters set to attend games across the country.

The league matches taking place on Monday 2 January will be the first to have been played with no pandemic restrictions on festive attendances since season 2019/20.

In season 2021/22, the introduction of fresh restrictions led to cinch Premiership matches across 2/3 January being postponed until later in the month, while cinch Championship, cinch League 1 and cinch League 2 games were only allowed a limit of 500 fans.

Covid guidelines also previously meant the New Year fixtures were played in empty stadiums in season 2020/21.

Matches taking place on 2 January 2023 include Rangers v Celtic at Ibrox at 12.30pm, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports. All other matches that day kick off at 3.00pm and include the Edinburgh derby at Tynecastle, and St Johnstone taking on local rivals Dundee United at McDiarmid Park.

Another Glasgow derby is taking place in the cinch Championship, when Queen’s Park face Partick Thistle at Ochilview, whilst Dundee meet Arbroath at the Kilmac Stadium, Dens Park.

Other big matches across the divisions include top-of-the-table Dunfermline Athletic hosting local rivals Falkirk, who currently sit in third place in cinch League 1, at East End Park.

Neil Doncaster, SPFL chief executive, said: “Our New Year derby fixtures have become one of the most exciting dates in the Scottish football calendar, so we’re thrilled to be able to have these matches played in front of full crowds again for the first time in three years.

“There are big matches across all four divisions, including Rangers v Celtic at Ibrox, which supporters will be able to watch live on Sky Sports.

“It will be great to see busy stadiums across the country for these fixtures, and everyone at the SPFL would like to wish the clubs involved the very best of luck.”

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