Aberdeen games with St Johnstone & Hamilton unaffected by city lockdown

By Chris McLaughlin

BBC Scotland sports news correspondent

Aberdeen and St Johnstone meet for the first time this season on Saturday

New lockdown restrictions in the city will not impact Aberdeen’s Premiership visit to St Johnstone on Saturday, the Scottish government has confirmed.

Measures are being imposed in Aberdeen because of a coronavirus cluster, with pubs and restaurants closed from 17:00 BST on Wednesday.

But the government points out that football clubs “are operating within a sporting bubble”.

It said this is “supported by regular testing and robust guidance”.

“It is therefore not necessary at this time to postpone any fixtures in response to the local Aberdeen lockdown,” the government stated.

People are being told not to visit the city and those living there face travel restrictions.

The Scottish Professional Football League has been told the fixture in Perth – all Premiership games are presently being played behind closed doors – will go ahead as planned.

Aberdeen are scheduled to host Hamilton Academical at Pittodrie next Wednesday and, as things stand, that game is also unaffected.

On Tuesday, it was announced that there were no positive results from the latest round of coronavirus testing among Scottish clubs.