SPFL Statement

The SPFL has today announced that this evening’s Premiership fixture between Kilmarnock and Motherwell at Rugby Park has been postponed.

On 29 September, Kilmarnock FC carried out routine swab tests on their first team squad of players in advance of the fixture this evening. This disclosed three players who tested positive for Covid-19. These positive results were subsequently confirmed by NHS Scotland.

On 1 October, Kilmarnock FC retested all of its remaining first team players. The results have disclosed a further three first team squad players who have tested positive for Covid-19.

A meeting led by NHS Ayrshire and Arran Public Health was held this morning, including representatives from Kilmarnock FC, the Scottish Government, Public Health Scotland and the Scottish FA. NHS Ayrshire & Arran Test and Protect Team carried out COVID-19 contact tracing following the six confirmed positive tests at the club.

As a result, Kilmarnock FC has been advised by the local Problem Assessment Group that their whole first team playing squad require to immediately self-isolate. This is in order to minimise the risk of further cases in the player and other staff groups at the club, in the wider local community, and to support Test and Protect.

Subsequently, Kilmarnock FC wrote to the SPFL indicating that they were not in a position to fulfil this evening’s scheduled fixture against Motherwell and the club requested a postponement of the fixture. The SPFL Board met this afternoon and has agreed to postpone the fixture whilst the position is investigated. An investigation will now be carried out by the SPFL to ascertain the circumstances leading to this postponement.

A spokesman for the SPFL said: “No new date for this fixture has been set, pending the outcome of the SPFL investigation.”