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Scottish Challenge Cup cancelled for 2020/21 season but 2019/20 final will go ahead


By Jonathan Clark

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THE 2020/21 Scottish Challenge Cup has been cancelled after a consultation process involving all 42 SPFL clubs.

15-11-19 Challenge Cup quarter final Raith Rovers - Elgin City
15-11-19 Challenge Cup quarter final Raith Rovers - Elgin City

Of the SPFL's 42 clubs, 34 agreed that, due to the absence of fans, the competition should be cancelled.

The Challenge Cup, established in 1990, is contested between 30 Championship, League One and League Two clubs – as well as the top clubs from the Highland and Lowland League.

Clubs from England, Ireland, Northern Ireland and Wales have also recently been invited to compete, along with colts teams from the Premiership.

Despite the cancellation of this season's competition, it was announced that last season's Challenge Cup will be completed – with the final between Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Raith Rovers to take place later this season.

A spokesman for the SPFL said: “This is a sad day for a competition that has been an established and much-loved part of the footballing landscape since its inception to commemorate the centenary of the Scottish Football League in 1990.

“It is extremely concerning that so many clubs felt that they could not afford to participate in the Challenge Cup this season, given the continuing restrictions on fans coming to matches.

“Fans remain the lifeblood of the game in Scotland. Today’s decision to cancel the Challenge Cup this season is a further demonstration of the urgent need to get fans back into stadia safely, as they are in other countries.

"A continuing ban on fans threatens the very future of many of our clubs which have been mainstays of local communities across the country for generations.”

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