ABERDEEN, Scotland - Wednesday's highly anticipated Scottish Premiership showdown between Aberdeen and Celtic was abruptly postponed less than four hours before kick-off due to severe pitch conditions at Pittodrie Stadium.
Match officials deemed the waterlogged field unsafe for play after fourth official Greg Soutar conducted a 4pm inspection. The decision came following weeks of extreme weather in the region, with Aberdeenshire recording its wettest January since 2016 at 124mm of rainfall - more than double the monthly average.
"Player safety is paramount," Soutar told Sky Sports News. "The surface near the Merkland Stand penalty area was particularly problematic - the mud was shifting underfoot, and the ball wasn't bouncing properly."
The postponement deals a blow to Celtic's title hopes, as Martin O'Neill's squad aimed to close the three-point gap with league leaders Hearts. Aberdeen CEO Alan Burrows expressed regret for traveling supporters, revealing the club had initially requested an earlier pitch inspection at 1:30pm.
"We exhausted all options to make the field playable," Burrows said. "Our ground staff worked tirelessly, but with 51 consecutive days of precipitation, conditions proved insurmountable."
This marks the second Scottish Premiership postponement of the day, following the cancellation of Dundee vs Motherwell at Dens Park for similar reasons. League officials have yet to announce rescheduled dates for either fixture.
The weather-related disruption comes during a crucial period in the transfer window, with Aberdeen poised to showcase new signings before a capacity crowd. Meteorologists predict continued unsettled weather patterns across Scotland in the coming weeks.
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