Rangers have accused Dundee of "negligence and unprofessionalism" after Wednesday night's Scottish Premiership clash at Dens Park was postponed for a second time due to a waterlogged pitch.
Referee Don Robertson declared that the Dens Park surface was playable following a pitch inspection at 11:00am.
However, an agreement was reached by both Dundee and Rangers that another inspection would be carried out at 3:30pm noting the adverse weather forecast.
Heavy rainfall in the East of Scotland has ultimately rendered the pitch unplayable and the fixture has been called off for a second time after it was initially postponed on March 17.
The SPFL have confirmed that the fixture at Dens Park has now been rescheduled to April 17.
Rangers has written to the SPFL outlining its position following today's further postponement of the Dundee Scottish Premiership fixture.
— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) April 10, 2024
Rangers condemn Dundee's "negligence and unprofessionalism"
Rangers have since hit out at Dundee and have released a strongly-worded statement accusing the Dark Blues of "negligence and unprofessionalism".
A statement read: "Rangers has written to the SPFL outlining its position following today's further postponement of the Dundee Scottish Premiership fixture.
"The negligence and unprofessionalism demonstrated by Dundee Football Club, where they have repeatedly breached SPFL rules, continues to have a damaging effect on the top professional league in the country.
"In a week where record TV viewing figures were recorded for a match in the same competition, and this evening's game due to be televised again by Sky Sports, this episode is deeply embarrassing and has also been eminently avoidable.
"Rangers expects the SPFL to take proportionate and decisive action in accordance with its rules, and the club will continue to make representations to them in the strongest possible manner.
"The club has been repeatedly putting forward solutions to the SPFL, which have not been taken up. It has again proposed a solution to the preparation and execution of this rescheduled fixture and is awaiting a response from the SPFL. As things stand, the rescheduled match will be on Wednesday, April 17 at 8pm. The club considers that this matter has been handled incorrectly throughout by both Dundee and the SPFL.
"At this time, we sympathise fully once again with our supporters, approximately 4000 of whom were looking forward to attending tonight's game. Having already been left hugely inconvenienced and out of pocket by the first postponement last month, it is entirely unacceptable and disrespectful on the part of Dundee FC to have allowed this situation to have developed again."
© Reuters
SPFL chief operating officer Calum Beattie has confirmed that a contingency plan was already in place for the match to be played next Wednesday, saying: "The Match Referee has carried out two detailed pitch inspections today and in light of the forecast for heavy rain later today in Dundee, a decision has now been taken that the pitch will not be playable this evening.
"Whilst this development is extremely disappointing, we have had contingency measures in place since last month and informed both clubs by email on March 21 of our intention, should tonight's game fall victim to the weather, that we would rearrange the game for Dens Park on the evening of Wednesday, April 17. In the last week we have explored other possible options with both clubs but none of them were deemed to be better than our original contingency plan.
"This decision gives this vital fixture the very best chance of being played in front of both sets of supporters and also gives us a week to finalise further contingency planning in the event that the weather unexpectedly deteriorates in the interim."
Beattie added: "There is currently an ongoing disciplinary process regarding pitch issues at Dens Park and the latest developments will form part of those enquiries."
Dundee, who sit sixth in the Scottish Premiership table, have now has a total of five home league matches called off due to waterlogged pitches this season.
Rangers, meanwhile, sit second and only one point behind leaders Celtic following last weekend's thrilling 3-3 Old Firm draw at Ibrox, but Philippe Clement's men have a game in hand over their Glaswegian rivals.
Oliver Thomas
