SPFL announce key dates for next season with extended winter break
The SPFL has confirmed a schedule for next season which includes a five-week break for the cinch Premiership to coincide with the World Cup in Qatar later this year.
The top flight will stop after fixture round 16 on the weekend of November 12/13 before resuming on the weekend of 17/18 December. The World Cup, for which Scotland will qualify if they come through two play-off matches in March, begins on Monday November 21 and climaxes on Sunday December 18.
In order to accommodate the break, which is two weeks longer than the current winter shutdown, the final round of Premiership fixtures will be staged on May 27/28, two weeks later than this season.
Clubs in the Championship, League 1 and League 2 have opted to continue playing through the World Cup period and will conclude their fixtures on the first weekend in May before the play-offs get under way.
All four divisions will kick off on the weekend of July 30/31. The group stage of the Premier Sports Cup will kick off on the second weekend in July but, because of the changes to the calendar, the semi-finals and final will take place after the turn of the year instead of before Christmas.