Scottish lower leagues & Scottish Cup suspended for three weeks
- Published
Dumbarton's League 1 fixtures for the remainder of January will be rescheduled
Scottish football below Championship level has been suspended for three weeks from midnight on Monday due to the rising number of coronavirus cases.
The impacted leagues include SPFL Leagues 1 and 2 and SWPL 1 and 2.
The Highland and Lowland Leagues, the East, West and South of Scotland Leagues, Scottish Junior FA Leagues and the North Caledonian League are also suspended.
Scottish Cup ties between 12 January and 1 February will be rescheduled.
Camelon Juniors v Brora Rangers went ahead on Monday, as did Celtic v Hibernian in the Premiership.
Weekly PCR testing will be required for players and staff in the Championship. Regular testing has been in place for Premiership clubs since the season started in August.
The temporary pause will be reviewed on a rolling basis by the Scottish FA board in partnership with the Scottish government.
A statement from the SFA read: "The board gave extensive consideration to making a decision in the interests of public health, taking cognisance of the government's wish to reduce travel and possible contact with others whilst safeguarding commercial broadcasting contracts that sustain the professional game.
"Following a meeting between the Scottish FA and the minister for public health sport and wellbeing, both parties have agreed to impose a temporary suspension of all football beneath the Scottish Professional Football League Championship, encompassing all predominantly part-time tiers of the Scottish professional pyramid, from midnight tonight."
SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster said his organisation "supports the Scottish FA's proportionate and appropriate response to the worsening situation across the country".