2 Jan 2008Games 'a mark of respect for Phil O'Donnell'

The secretary of the SPL has defended the decision to give Wednesday's league match between Dundee United and Hearts the go ahead in the wake of the death of Motherwell's Phil O'Donnell soon after his team's match with United on December 29th.

Dundee United defender Lee Wilkie has called SPL chiefs "stupid and arrogant" for ruling that the match should be played, and suggests that the event can only be an irrelevance in light of recent events.

However, Iain Blair believes the organisation has made a balanced judgement and claims that the match will actually give fans a chance to show their appreciation for O'Donnell.

"What we want to do with the games that are going ahead is to provide an opportunity for Scottish football to come together and show its respect and honour for Phil," he said.

"We've asked for a minute's applause to be held before each of the games [played on Wednesday]. All of the players will be wearing black armbands.

"We want the games themselves to be a mark of respect for an excellent professional footballer."

Matches between Aberdeen and Inverness CT and Kilmarnock and Falkirk will also be played.

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