Scottish Premiership winter break to start after Boxing Day
The postponed fixtures will be rearranged for later in January
Last updated 22nd Dec 2021
The Scottish Premiership's winter break will start after Sunday's Boxing Day fixtures.
The top flight is now scheduled to finish up after the fixtures on December 26 with games resuming on January 17.
It means the Old Firm, Dundee derby and Edinburgh derby have all been called off.
Sunday's matches will be played in front of a maximum of 500 supporters before the league goes into cold storage.
Neil Doncaster, SPFL Chief Executive, said: “We have had intense and positive discussions with all cinch SPFL clubs over the past 24 hours, since the announcement by the Scottish Government of a three-week period of restrictions on fans attending matches.
“We have advised our clubs that any postponements increase the risk of further disruption to an already highly congested fixture calendar.
“There are mixed views amongst cinch Premiership clubs about what to do for the best.
“However, a majority favour the postponement of fixtures to give a chance for games scheduled to be played over the festive period to be played in front of fans, once the three-week period of restrictions comes to an end.
“The SPFL Board has agreed to postpone the 29 December and New Year cinch Premiership fixture cards.
“cinch Championship, League 1 and League 2 clubs voted to continue playing through the Government restrictions and we look forward to their festive fixtures over the next fortnight.
“We would like to place on record our sincere thanks to Sky Sports and Police Scotland for their flexibility in accommodating these changes and to all cinch SPFL clubs for their clear, positive and constructive feedback as we work together to get through the challenges posed by Covid-19.”
The cinch Premiership fixtures scheduled for 29 December will move as follows:
Monday 17 January
7.45pm Celtic v Hibernian
Tuesday 18 January
7.45pm Aberdeen v Rangers (live on Sky Sports)
7.45pm Dundee United v St Mirren
7.45pm Heart of Midlothian v St Johnstone
7.45pm Livingston v Dundee
7.45pm Ross County v Motherwell
The fixtures scheduled for 2/3 January will move as follows:
Tuesday 1 February
7.45pm Dundee v Dundee United
7.45pm Hibernian v Heart of Midlothian (live on Sky Sports)
7.45pm Livingston v St Johnstone
7.45pm Ross County v Aberdeen
7.45pm St Mirren v Motherwell
Wednesday 2 February
7.45pm Celtic v Rangers (live on Sky Sports)