Hearts have been ordered to stop training with immediate effect by Scottish football’s Joint Response Group.
The Jambos returned to full training this week despite the start of the Championship season still being two months away.
But in the wake of the Boli Bolingoli quarantine breach and the ‘Aberdeen Eight’ fiasco the JRG have tightened measures surrounding the return of football outside the top flight.
That means the return to training for clubs outside the Premiership has been put on hold until August 24 at the earliest, pending updated government guidance on the 20th.
Rod Petrie, Joint Response Group chair said: “The message from First Minister could not have been clearer. The JRG must now ensure that the planned resumption of football beyond the Scottish Premiership is done in a controlled manner with the strictest adherence to protocols and guidelines.
“The pause on the return to training for the professional game outwith the Scottish Premiership will not impact on the proposed start dates of the respective league competitions but will give sufficient time to reinforce protocols, educate players and make sure of the ability of clubs in the lower divisions to conform.”
The group has also sought to underline the importance of existing protocols.
Professor Jason Leitch, the National Clinical Director for Scotland, has produced a video message outlining what professional footballers can and cannot do within the existing government guidelines which will be "reinforced on a regular basis".
In addition, the SPFL and SFA have gifted Scottish Government advertising space to promote public health messaging on matchdays.
SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster said: “Today’s measures underline the fact that Scottish football is doing everything it possibly can to protect our game. The recent, high-profile breaches must be used as further motivation for all those with our game’s best interests at heart to comply absolutely with these necessary restrictions and safeguards.”
