Nicola Sturgeon has warned Scottish football that "all bets are off" if clubs don't follow strict covid rules while the country is in lockdown.
The First Minister was speaking ahead of this weekend's Scottish Cup second round fixtures, which will see a number of part-time sides travel to take on professional clubs.
Elite-level sport has so far been allowed to continue uninterrupted despite mainland Scotland being placed under "enhanced" level four restrictions this week, with the public told to stay at home.
Spectators have been banned from almost all football and rugby matches since March last year, a rule which has caused financial headaches for numerous clubs.
Speaking at her daily media briefing today, the SNP leader said: "The exemptions for professional football, and elite sports people generally, are not just for their benefit - we are trying to give people that bit of entertainment and normality.
"But, if any sport does not stick to the restrictions, and doesn't make sure all the mitigations are in place, then all bets are off."
Jason Leitch, Scotland's clinical director, said pro clubs were free to travel for matches but urged them to limit the size of their support staff on match days.
He added: "Footballers can move around the country tomorrow with their club doctors and their management.
"However they must have very strong mitigations in place to do so, both for travel and for competing.
"I would expect their support staff to be the lowest level possible and to remember distancing and face coverings and all the other elements the rest of us has to face.
"For now, professional sport remains exempt and they can travel - but they have to still be careful. Some of them may have the virus and they should behave as if they have."
The Record revealed how Scotland's cash strapped top flight clubs will hold urgent talks next week after not yet receiving a single penny of the government's proposed £20m Covid bailout.
The government announced on December 10 that a £55m emergency fund had been ring-fenced to save Scottish sport from the crippling financial consequences of playing on behind closed doors.
A total of £15m was pumped into Scottish rugby as grants but only £10m was set aside on the same terms for lower league football - with a £20m loan facility arranged for the Premiership, with that cash repayable with interest charges.
The top flight clubs - who can each loan an emergency sum of around £1.7m - felt they had been unfairly singled out from the start.