Scottish Premiership winter break brought forward

The SPFL have confirmed that the winter break will be brought forward and start after the boxing day fixtures.

It comes after capacities were capped at 500 from Sunday amid a Covid surge.

The SPFL board made the final decision after clubs were given a deadline on Wednesday and three options to choose from - pause as planned on 4 January, begin the break on Monday or before Sunday's games.

The lower tiers do not have a scheduled winter break and have opted to play on.

The early top-flight shutdown means the postponement of two full fixture cards, including new year derbies in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dundee.

The Premiership resumes on 17-18 January, while the other round of rearranged matches takes place on 1-2 February and culminates with Celtic v Rangers.

SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster confirmed there were "mixed views" among top-flight clubs over an earlier shutdown which will "increase the risk of further disruption to an already highly congested fixture calendar."