Neil Doncaster, the SPFL chief executive, last night branded the “thoughtless and selfish” actions of the Aberdeen and Celtic players who have breached Covid-19 lockdown rules a “kick in the teeth” to Scottish football.

Doncaster was speaking after the SFA and SPFL Joint Response Group accepted a request from Minister for Public Health, Sport and Wellbeing Joe Fitzpatrick to postpone the Pittodrie and Parkhead clubs’ games this week.

The move comes after two Aberdeen players contracted coronavirus and six others had to go into quarantine after visiting a city centre bar – and Celtic defender Boli Bolingoli travelled to Spain without informing his club and then failed to self-isolate on his return.

“We have only been able to restart matches thanks to the enormous efforts and sacrifices of literally thousands of people across the Scottish game,” he said. “For anyone to put that in jeopardy in such a thoughtless and selfish manner is just beyond belief.

“The vast majority of players and officials who have strictly observed the necessary restrictions will rightly see this as a real kick in the teeth. Everyone knows that this season’s fixture schedule is already horrendously tight without having to reschedule matches because of the irresponsible actions of a handful of players.”