CELTIC’S Premiership fixture against St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park on Saturday August 22 has been postponed.
The game falls between the first leg Champions League play-off on 18/19 and the return on 25/26..
The Hoops have exercised their right to move the fixture to another date to leave them free to focus on attempting to reach the league stages of Europe’s elite competition.
The Hoops will utilise every opportunity for success they can get in an effort not to repeat last season’s disaster against Kairat Almaty when they crashed at the first hurdle, losing on penalty-kicks after two goalless draws against the Khazakhstan minnows.
The SPFL said: “As was the case last season, clubs involved in the play-offs of a UEFA competition have the right to postpone their William Hill Premiership round three fixture without the need for the agreement of their opponents.
“This policy was approved by the SPFL Board in April 2025, following a recommendation from the Competitions Working Group, to support clubs aiming to reach the league phase of UEFA competitions.
“The deadline for 2026/27 was today, Friday July 24, and the SPFL can confirm that all five clubs competing in Europe this season – Celtic, Heart of Midlothian, Rangers, Motherwell and Hibernian – have requested a postponement of their league fixture.”
The Hoops’ game against the newly-promoted Perth club will now be played in September.
The rearranged date will be confirmed after the UEFA league-phase draws at the end of next month.
The champions will kick off their quest for a sixth successive title when Dundee visit Parkhead a week on Monday.
They are due to play Kilmarnock at Rugby Park the following Sunday.
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