THE SPFL have rejected a request from Kilmarnock to postpone their League Cup fixture against Falkirk and have awarded the League One side a 3-0 win, the governing body have announced.

Six players returned positive tests for coronavirus at Rugby Park earlier this week and the entire first-team squad are currently self-isolating.

With Killie set to travel to Falkirk tomorrow evening for their opening Betfred Cup fixture, the club requested that the match be postponed.

That request has been rejected by the SPFL following a meeting this afternoon, saying their decision was "consistent with the board policy in relation to the Betfred Cup Round 1 group stage announced on 18 September".

As a result, Kilmarnock have forfeited the match and Falkirk have been awarded a 3-0 victory.

An SPFL spokesman said: “In anticipation of the enormous pressure on fixtures this season, the board made clear last month that teams unable or unwilling to field a team in a Betfred Cup Round 1 group stage tie, will forfeit the match on the basis of a 3-0 defeat.

“We have enormous sympathy for players and clubs which are unable to fulfil the fixtures on the scheduled date, but, given the unprecedented challenges facing the game this year, we must maintain the clear position outlined last month in relation to the Betfred Cup first round group stage. Accordingly, Falkirk have been awarded a 3-0 win in the tie.”

Alex Dyer's side are scheduled to host Dunfermline on Tuesday 13 October in their second fixture in the competition but no decision has been made on whether or not the tie will go ahead.