SPFL secretary Iain Blair today revealed he will be unable to postpone Premiership matches the weekend before the Euro 2020 play-off semi-final and final.
And Blair also confirmed the SPFL will be abandoning the winter break in the 2020/21 campaign and could ask some clubs to play four games in the space of eight days.
The SFA have contacted the SPFL and asked them not to schedule any fixtures before the semi-final game against Israel on Thursday, October 8, and the final on Thursday, November 12.
Scotland manager Steve Clarke is keen for his players to have as much time as possible to rest and prepare for the crucial matches.
But Blair has described the challenges he faces drawing up the fixture list in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic as the greatest in his 22 years in the role.
He revealed the SPFL have asked Sky Sports to try and avoid scheduling any live matches for the Sunday before the semi-final and final – if the game hasn’t been moved because Scottish clubs have been involved in Europe.
“The stress on the SPFL fixture calendar next season is going to be enormous, with a real risk that some clubs will be forced to play four games in eight days, which we always try to avoid,” he said.
“And that’s even before we consider the impact of the Scottish winter and the high risk of cancelled matches due to adverse weather.
“We have already been obliged to cancel the winter break next season because we absolutely needed those extra three potential match dates, but even with that, I think it is going to be tighter than at any time in my 22 years working for the SPFL.”
Blair added: “We’ve been in discussion with the SFA. They understandably want to have the two rounds of matches postponed before the Nations League play-offs in early October and early November.
“If there was any slack at all in the schedule we would obviously be very keen to deliver that. Unfortunately it’s simply not possible, given the restrictions we are working within.
“We have committed to liaising with Sky Sports to encourage them to avoid scheduling live matches on the Sunday before the Scotland games, unless that fixture has been shifted to the Sunday because of UEFA Europa League commitments the previous midweek.”
With the Premiership 2020/21 Season scheduled to start on August 1 there are 71 potential weekend and midweek fixture dates available before the Premiership split at Round 33.
But 12 of those potential dates are taken by FIFA and UEFA for international matches, 16 have been reserved by UEFA for its European club competitions, two dates will be required for the completion of the 2019/20 Scottish Cup competition, three further dates will be set aside for the fourth, fifth and sixth rounds of the 2020/21 Scottish Cup and four dates are also needed for the Betfred Cup
Blair said: “With 37 of the 71 dates therefore ruled out, that leaves us a maximum of 34 fixture dates to fit in the required 33 rounds of pre-split SPFL matches.
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“It is already incredibly tight, and that is before we consider how many games we will inevitably lose to bad winter weather, Scottish Cup replays and further potential postponements caused by Covid-19.
“There is a very real risk that several SPFL teams will be forced to play four matches in eight days - and perhaps more than once – which would be a nightmare for players and fans alike.
“I’m afraid to say there are real and justified fears over the resilience of the forthcoming current fixture schedule, given everything the game is dealing with currently.
“I will be writing to clubs shortly to explain the various factors we are balancing and I know from my discussions with club secretaries that they understand our shared predicament.
“It goes without saying, we will all be keeping our fingers crossed for a very mild winter."
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