‘Furious’ Nicola Sturgeon criticises Aberdeen players as St Johnstone game is called off following two positive coronavirus tests

Game was due to take place at McDiarmid Park on Saturday

Saturday’s Scottish Premiership game between Aberdeen and St Johnstone has been called off after two Aberdeen players tested positive for coronavirus following what First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon called “completely unacceptable” behaviour.

The match, which was due to take place at St Johnstone’s McDiarmid Park, will no longer go ahead as eight Aberdeen players self-isolate – six of them having been in close contact with their two infected team-mates.

The Scottish government initially accused Aberdeen players of putting the return of football at risk following a “clear breach” of coronavirus protocols, with Sturgeon adding after the game’s cancellation that the players “blatantly broke the rules” by visiting a bar on Saturday night after their team’s 1-0 defeat by Rangers.

That fixture was the first competitive Scottish football match since mid-March.

“Football has been given the go-ahead on the strict condition that clubs and players abide by the guidance that has been agreed,” Sturgeon said. “If they don’t do that, they put at risk the return of the professional game. To say this incident is deeply regrettable is an understatement.

“I’m pretty furious about this situation, because it shouldn’t have happened. If that guidance is not going to be adhered to then all bets are off.”

This weekend is set to mark the second round of fixtures in this season’s Scottish top flight after the last campaign was halted due to the ongoing pandemic, but it will go ahead without Aberdeen and St Johnstone.

Ahead of the game’s cancellation, a spokesman said: “The Scottish Government is disappointed by the actions of these individuals who have put at risk the return of professional football in Scotland.

“This was a clear breach of the rules that were put in place by the SFA, the SPFL and the Scottish Government. As this outbreaks highlights, it’s imperative that these strict protocols are diligently followed in order to ensure the continued safe resumption of the sport.

“The Scottish Government is clear that it is only by following the rules and keeping people safe that football is able to continue. No-one wants to see the season put at risk. Officials will also be meeting with all club captains and managers in the next few days to emphasise the guidelines and their importance.”

Aberdeen chairman Dave Cormack said: “Given the efforts of everyone at the club and our investment in protecting our most valuable assets, this is a bitter blow. With two first-team players testing positive for Covid-19, plus six others having to isolate for 14 days, it is also a harsh reminder of the severity and speed of spread of this virus.

“The club will be carrying out a full investigation but, as an immediate first step, we have reinforced the club’s Covid-19 protocols and the governing bodies’ guidance with every player and member of staff and will continue to regularly educate and remind everyone of what is, and what is not, acceptable in the current climate.”