Celtic’s hopes of chopping the hole to Hearts on the prime of the Scottish Premiership to a few factors have hit a snag after their journey to Aberdeen, as a consequence of be proven reside on Sky Sports activities, was postponed lower than 4 hours earlier than kick-off.
Martin O’Neill’s facet had been as a consequence of go to Pittodrie on Wednesday night however a 4pm pitch inspection carried out by fourth official Greg Souter, following what the hosts referred to as “prolonged rain over the last few weeks”, discovered the bottom to be too waterlogged for the sport to go forward.
Souter informed Sky Sports activities Information: “There was an space of concern raised in regards to the backside finish throughout the penalty space. I’ve had a have a look at it, there’s extraordinarily smooth mud, it is transferring once you put studs in it and there is concern participant security once they’re operating in it that their studs will simply slip.
“The ball’s not bouncing in that area either. Player safety is paramount and that’s not something I could ensure. It’s not one I thought was in doubt, it’s a fairly straightforward decision.”
A brand new date for the fixture is but to be introduced.
The 12 months has bought off to a moist begin in Aberdeenshire, which recorded the wettest January since 2016 with 124mm of rainfall, greater than double the month-to-month common.
Celtic had hoped to reap the benefits of leaders Hearts’ slip-up final evening, after Derek McInnes’ facet have been crushed 1-0 by St Mirren.
The Scottish Premiership match between Dundee and Motherwell was additionally postponed on Wednesday afternoon as a consequence of a waterlogged pitch at Dens Park.
