Celtic’s hopes of closing the gap on Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts to just three points were hit by their trip to Aberdeen, which was due to be broadcast live on Sky Sports, to be postponed less than four hours before kick-off.
Martin O’Neill’s side were due to visit Pittodrie on Wednesday night, but an inspection of the pitch by fourth official Greg Suter at 4pm following what organizers described as “extensive rain over recent weeks” found the ground too flooded to continue.
Suter told Sky Sports News: “There have been some concerns about the bottom end in the penalty area. I went to look at it and there was very soft mud, and when you put the studs in, the mud moves. There are safety concerns that if the players run in that, the studs might slip.”
“The ball isn’t bouncing in that area either. Player safety is paramount, but that’s not something I can guarantee. It’s not that I had any doubts, it’s a pretty simple decision.”
A new date for the match has not yet been announced.
Aberdeenshire had a wet start to the year, with 124mm of rain falling, more than double the monthly average, making it the wettest January since 2016.
Celtic were hoping to take advantage of leaders Hearts’ lapses after Derek McInnes’ side lost 1-0 to St Mirren on Tuesday night.
The Scottish Premiership match between Dundee and Motherwell was also postponed on Wednesday afternoon after the pitch at Dens Park became flooded.
Aberdeen chief executive Alan Burrows offered his sympathies to the traveling fans who had already left for Pittodrie, but said the Dons had originally requested a pitch inspection at 1.30pm, more than six hours before kick-off.
He told Sky Sports: “We were really desperate to get the game going and there was going to be a big crowd. We also had some new players that we had just brought in during the transfer window and they were likely to be in and we were very excited about that.”
View of Pittodrie pitch
“However, the last month or so of severe weather in this part of Scotland has exacerbated the wear and tear on the small area in front of the Melkland Stand.
“The weather hasn’t stopped raining. I think it’s been raining and snowing for 51 straight days in Aberdeenshire. We’ve tried to do everything we can to make it playable, but it hasn’t worked.
“We were watching all day and there was a big puddle in the six-yard box when we came in, but it was very wet underneath as well.
“At around 1.30pm we asked the SFA for someone to come and watch the pitch. Unfortunately it took a little while. So it’s unfortunate that the postponement was until after 4pm. Some of you may have already had to leave and we would like to apologize for that.”
