Kilmarnock have forfeited their opening Betfred Cup clash against Falkirk - with a 3-0 win being awarded to the Bairns
Coronavirus crisis club Killie say they won’t field a side for the tie after seeing their entire first team squad put into self isolation after six stars tested positive for the virus last week.
Kilmarnock could have fulfilled Tuesday’s scheduled Betfred Cup clash with Falkirk by filling their team with Academy players.
But boss Alex Dyer said he was unwilling to put a team of untested teenagers out against the Bairns.
Killie requested the match be rescheduled. But the SPFL board met today and turned down that request - instead awarding Falkirk the 3-0 win as per the competition rules.
Killie hope to have some first team players back for their clash with Dunfermline in the same competition next Tuesday.
Dyer said: “We have a duty of care for the physical and emotional wellbeing of our young players and that’s something we take extremely seriously.
“Everyone at Kilmarnock FC takes great pride in the work carried out by the academy staff and the boys performed exceptionally well to reach the Youth Cup final prior to the COVID shutdown.
“Blooding youngsters into the first team environment carefully and at the right time is something that I believe in but as manager, I did not feel comfortable fielding an entire team of teenagers, all of whom have no first-team experience while very few have sampled reserve football.
“While forfeiting the match is not an easy decision to make in my opinion, it would not be right to play the game as scheduled against such experienced opposition as it could be detrimental not only to the young players themselves but also to the sporting integrity of the competition.”
An SPFL spokesman said: “In anticipation of the enormous pressure on fixtures this season, the board made clear last month that teams 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 have enormous sympathy for players and clubs which are unable to fulfil the fixtures on the scheduled date, but, given the unprecedented challenges facing the game this year, we must maintain the clear position outlined last month in relation to the Betfred Cup first round group stage. Accordingly, Falkirk have been awarded a 3-0 win in the tie.”
