Aberdeen’s fixture with St Johnstone will still go ahead despite two players testing positive for Covid-19.
A statement from the Scottish FA/SPFL Joint Response Group confirmed that the player who initially tested positive, which has been confirmed by a follow-up NHS test, will self-isolate for 10 days from yesterday.
The second player, who is awaiting the result of an NHS test, and six other players who were in proximity to the other two must all self-isolate for 14 days.
Aberdeen are due to face St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park on Saturday and the club is due to hold its pre-match press conference on Friday morning.
It comes as the city has been hit by a cluster outbreak of the virus, with 79 cases in the NHS Grampian region by Thursday afternoon.
Aberdeen chairman Dave Cormack said: “After Saturday’s game, with all eyes on Pittodrie, we were once again commended on the stringent processes and measures we had in place. 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.
“We now have to focus on preparing for Saturday’s game under extremely difficult circumstances.”
Aberdeen started their season on Saturday with a 1-0 defeat at home to Rangers, the first game in Scotland since football was stopped in March. They will be without the eight players for Saturday’s game, as well as the visit of Hamilton Accies on Wednesday and the trip to Celtic next weekend.
The Scottish FA/SPFL Joint Response Group has been meeting most days and had previously indicated the game against St Johnstone would go ahead. Only two players had tested positive for the virus in five weeks of testing, since the end of June.
Rod Petrie, Joint Response Group chair, said: “As we have said from the outset, public health is the absolute priority of the Joint Response Group. As soon as we were informed of the positive tests, the information was immediately referred to the Scottish Government via our chief medical consultant.
“Given the well-documented outbreak in Aberdeen it was imperative that we took the swiftest action to enable the local Health Protection Team to respond immediately.
“The Scottish Government’s instruction to the JRG was clear and unequivocal, as was our support of that instruction. Given the circumstances, we issue the strongest possible message to all clubs to ensure compliance with the twice-weekly testing procedure and Scottish football’s Return to Playing Protocol. It is imperative that everyone adheres to Scottish Government public health advice.”
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced fresh lockdown measures to be imposed in the Granite City on Wednesday, following the latest spread. It included a five-mile travel restriction, a ban on visiting other households and the closure of all hospitality venues for at least the next week, where it will be reviewed again.
An Aberdeen player tested positive for Covid-19 last month, before posting subsequent negative results that facilitated a return to training.