Dundee vs Rangers called off as Dens Park fails second pitch inspection – with rescheduled date confirmed

Referee Don Robertson has declared the Dens Park field unusable; the game will now take place on Wednesday, April 17 at 8:00 p.m.

The postponed Scottish Premiership match between Rangers and Dundee has been cancelled after a second pitch assessment.

Following an initial assessment at 11 a.m. today, match referee Don Robertson confirmed the pitch was playable before heading back out onto the playing surface for a second time at 3.30 p.m.

But after five hours of continuous downpours, Robertson has opted to reschedule the match due to the possibility of more severe rain in the Tayside area later in the afternoon.

This season’s fifth postponement at Dens Park occurs because SPFL officials are reportedly conducting an investigation into the last postponement. Prior to being cancelled just 90 minutes before kickoff, the match between the Ibrox side and the Dark Blues was initially set to take place on Sunday, March 17.

An amber weather warning has been issued by the Met Office, and it is unclear what steps the Scottish FA and SPFL will take next—there are a few possible options that could be considered. The short-term announcement is that the game will now take place on Wednesday, April 17th at 8 p.m.

Robertson gave Sky Sports News an update on the pitch’s state at 2:30 p.m., saying, “I checked the surface at 11 a.m. Right now, the pitch is playable. The league requested me to come over this morning and carry out the examination. It goes without saying that the pitch has had some problems lately. I wanted to arrive early so I could see the pitch in advance. It can currently be played. The fact that the surface is usable and safe for the players to play on gives me great reassurance.

“Every part of the field, including those where concerns were raised when the game was postponed a few weeks ago and thereafter. That’s the current state of affairs. Everyone knows what the local weather is supposed to be like this afternoon.”

When asked if there were still worries about specific portions of the pitch as the weather got worse, Robertson said, “I believe so. I believe that everyone is already aware of the difficulties Dundee has had—at least, as of late—with their pitch. As of right now, it’s playable in a few places, though they’re already rather wet.

“Those places will become more of a concern to us should the prognosis prove to be accurate; nevertheless, projections are only estimates, and errors do occur. We are in the hands of the gods, but if it’s dry this afternoon, the rain stops, and the pitch is playable right now, it should be playable this evening.

That’s the current state of affairs. Therefore, based on the weather this afternoon, the clubs and the league will determine whether or not a second pitch inspection is necessary.”

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