BETS ARE OFF FOR FORFAR
THE Betfred Cup was thrown into turmoil last night after suffering a second Covid call-off before a ball was kicked.
Forfar forfeited their ttie with Dundee after a player at the League One club tested positive – with too little time left before kkick-off to establish if anyone else in their squad needed to isolate.
James McPake’s side wwere awarded a 3-0 win jujust 24 hours after Kilmarnock had to forfeit their scheduled game wwith Falkirk.
Forfar chiefs will hold ttalks with the SPFL and SFA this morning over how to proceed, with their next tie against Hibs on Tuesday.
Forfar secretary David McGregor said: “It’s a big disappointment but it was always going to happen to someone.
“I’m sure we won’t be the last part-time club where this happens unfortunately.
“We only learned of it a matter of three hours before kick-off which made it all the more difficult to deal with.
“There was no way we could have gone ahead with the game.
“The player in question feels fine. He had taken a test as a family member had tested positive.
“Unfortunately his test came back positive as well. The safety of all the players who would have been involved is the main thing.
“We took all the advice we were given and have no complaints about the decision. We will discuss with the league and the
SFA in the morning what steps we take next.”
The affected Forfar player is now selfisolating and the club is liaising with SFA and Test and Protect officers to establish whether any other players will need to quarantine.
An SPFL spokesman said: “This is further evidence of the very challenging season we are facing.
“We have real sympathy for Forfar, who were looking forward to competing in their first competitive match of the season. However, consistent with the announcement in respect of the Falkirk v Kilmarnock match, any team unable or unwilling to field a team in a Betfred Cup Round 1 group stage tie will forfeit the match on the basis of a 3-0 defeat.
“We wish the player concerned the very best in his recovery and will continue to liaise with Forfar in the coming days.”
A Dundee statement read: “We have been contacted by the SPFL to advise that tonight’s match will not go ahead.
“The club would like to wish the player affected by the virus a speedy recovery.”