Murrayfield Racers call-off their match as a Dundee player self isolates

Murrayfield Racers fans were looking forward to another feisty encounter

Murrayfield Racers director Willie Dunn said his club “had no other option” but to postpone tonight’s match with Dundee Tigers just two hours before face-off after it emerged a Dundee player had been self-isolating as a precaution to help fight the spread of the coronavirus.

The match was one of the few Scottish sporting fixtures this weekend that had not already been called-off as the country tries to curtail the spread of Covid-19 and it would have brought the curtain down on Racers’ Scottish National League campaign,

Dunn said: “I got to the rink and got a phone call at around a quarter to three from Tigers manager Stuart Burnett. They were actually already on the bus and were phoning us from the Forth Road Bridge, after one of their players had just informed them that they had been self-isolating.

“I spoke with (Racers director of hockey) Tony Hand and we agreed it was too big a risk for players, fans and staff so we had to postpone the game. We had no other option; it was the right thing to do.

“If we’d have known sooner, we would have let people know sooner. Everybody’s health and safety are paramount in these times.”

Racers are due to play Paisley Pirates in the Scottish Cup final at Dundee Ice Arena on Saturday, and begin their play-off campaign the following night at Aberdeen Lynx.

Dunn continued: “There are still a couple of options, it’s in the hands of the league whether they want to call it off.

“We’ll be keeping it under review all week and can make a decision as a club but the league at the end of the day is the governing body. Maybe ourselves and Paisley could start next season by playing for the Scottish Cup?

“I’m sure that could work but I’m confident the Scottish League will do what’s right for both the people who play, and the people who watch the sport.”