Hopes that Scottish football could continue with games played behind closed doors suffered a setback last night with the news that plans to resume in Germany are in disarray.

The German Bundesliga had announced ambitious plans to return next weekend with games played behind closed doors and subject to strict safety checks, after a fall in the number of new cases in the country.

Dynamo Dresden returned to training on Thursday and took part in two full-contact practice sessions however subsequent laboratory samples revealed two players have tested positive for the virus, although they are both currently symptom free.

All players, as well as coaching and support staff, would now face mandatory quarantine in their own homes.

Dresden were due to resume their season on 17 May at Hannover 96, but that match has now been cancelled due to the quarantine measures.

Dresden’s sports manager Ralf Minge said in a statement: “In the past few weeks, we have made enormous efforts in terms of personnel and logistics in order to strictly implement all the prescribed medical and hygienic measures.

“We are in contact with the responsible health authority and the DFL to coordinate all further steps. The fact is that we can neither train nor participate in the game in the next 14 days.”

+ posts

John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.