ROSS COUNTY manager Stuart Kettlewell thinks it would be 'exceptionally harsh' for clubs to forfeit points in the event that they're unable to field a team for a league fixture.
Outbreaks of coronavirus have already caused havoc with top-flight teams this season, with clubs unable to fulfil their games as planned. St Mirren were forced to request a postponement to their game against Motherwell last weekend, Kilmarnock had to forfeit two Betfred Cup games and Aberdeen's match with Celtic had to be rescheduled after first-team players had to self-isolate.
Motherwell could go the best part of a month without playing after two of their matches were rescheduled, leading Fir Park coach Maurice Ross to suggest on BBC Sportsound that some teams are using the rules to their advantage to allow injured players the chance to recover.
Ross said: "I think there needs to be a law change. If you can't fulfil a fixture, tough, three points."
However, Kettlewell refuted that suggestion - arguing that forcing teams to forfeit points could prove extremely damaging come the end of the season.
The Staggies boss said: "That would be exceptionally harsh. I don't think there's any club in Scotland who's actively trying to catch a deadly virus.
"We did have a few setbacks in the early weeks but Scottish football in general has learned a lot of lessons from that.
"We speak about us all having wives who work and kids at scool, so there's any number of ways that the virus can be passed about.
"We talk to our players about avoiding situations like coffee shops or the high street where you can't control your social distancing or who you're surrounded by.
"I have my own situation where I'm on red alert for my wife. She's due to give birth so we're trying to manage our other kids so they're not in contact with anyone who has the virus for obvious reasons.
"So we are all thinking about it and hopefully it doesn't happen but if anybody at Ross County comes down with it, it's certainly not going to be through us not following the rules.
"There really does need to be some common sense. The deduction of points could have a massive impact on people's seasons and livelihoods come the end of the season."
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