Coronavirus in Scotland: Hearts and Hibs matches could be cancelled from next week as Nicola Sturgeon advises nation

First Minister advises events of over 500 people should be cancelled

Hearts and Hibs' matches beyond this weekend are in jeopardy due to coronavirus measures that will come into place next week in Scotland.

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has revealed that the Scottish Government will "advise the cancellation" of mass gatherings of 500 people or more from the start of next week.

Speaking at First Minister’s Questions on Thursday, Ms Sturgeon said: "The daily update of confirmed cases will be published at 2pm today as normal.

Hearts and Hibs could see their matches postponed, cancelled or played behind closed doors. Picture: SNS

“I can tell Parliament we will see a sharp rise in cases today. We may also see further evidence of community transmission of coronavirus.

“The Health Secretary and I have decided this morning that we are minded that we will advise the cancellation, from the start of next week, of mass gatherings of 500 people or more.

“Our emergency services are likely to suffer from higher than normal sickness absence rates in the weeks and months ahead and our NHS, in particular, will be under significant pressure. It's important we protect that resilience as much as possible.”

As things stand, Hibs' game against St Johnstone on Saturday and Hearts' visit to Livingston on Sunday are set to be played under normal circumstances with supporters permitted to attend, but matches taking place from Monday onwards are likely to under restriction. However, with authorities in constant dialogue, the situation for this weekend could change at short notice.

It is unclear as yet whether the matches scheduled for the week commencing March 16 will be played behind doors or postponed to a later date.

The Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) and the SFA (Scottish Football Association) are expected to provide an update in due course.