St Mirren set for SPFL postponement investigation after protocol allegations - reports

The SPFL could be set to hit St Mirren with a punishment after their Scottish Premiership clash with Hamilton Accies was postponed.
St Mirren face an SPFL investigation. Picture: SNSSt Mirren face an SPFL investigation. Picture: SNS
St Mirren face an SPFL investigation. Picture: SNS

It is the second week running the Buddies have had their match called off due to positive coronavirus tests.

Last weekend saw a late call off for their match with Motherwell with reportedly just eight outfield first-team stars available.

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According to the Daily Mail, the SPFL have launched an investigation into the situation at St Mirren with allegations of serious breaches of social distancing protocols revolving around team meals and travel with possible car sharing.

Four of the club’s staff, including three players, tested positive on Thursday leaving Jim Goodwin with just 11 players for selection. Teams have to have 13 players fit, including one goalkeeper, for a game to go ahead as per league rules.

The entire first-team squad and coaching staff have now been placed in isolation by Public Health Scotland.

St Mirren chief executive Tony Fitzpatrick said in a statement on Friday: "We appreciate this is a frustrating situation for all connected to the club and those involved at Hamilton Academical.

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"This continues to be a challenging time for the club but the health and wellbeing of our players and staff remains our utmost concern."

Power for the SPFL

It follows the league body's announcement on Friday that they have commenced “disciplinary proceedings” against Kilmarnock for their postponement with Motherwell earlier this month for alleged protocol breaches.

The SPFL have returned to clubs asking them to consider giving the league board powers to determine the fate of the season should the pandemic prevent completion after the proposal didn’t gain sufficient support in the summer.

Chief executive Neil Doncaster said: "The fact that our rules did not expressly cover the situation where a season must be curtailed with a number of matches remaining to be played caused a great deal of uncertainty and delay in reaching a resolution last season. No-one wants to see that repeated.

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"Many of our clubs support the principle of drawing up a set of protocols long before we get to the situation where league positions understandably influence the individual approach of clubs to these difficult situations.”