Scottish Premier League secretary Iain Blair has defended the decision to make Dundee United play their game against Hearts on Wednesday.The Tannadice club were refused permission to postpone the SPL match following the death of Motherwell captain Phil O'Donnell.

O'Donnell, 35, died of heart failure after collapsing on the pitch during Saturday's game against United at Fir Park.

The SPL have already scrapped the Old Firm derby, as well as Motherwell's game against Hibernian and the clash between Gretna and St Mirren which would have been played at Motherwell's ground.

But Blair insisted the remaining three fixtures should go ahead as planned on Wednesday afternoon.

"Obviously, the tragic events of Saturday evening have hit everyone hard," he told Sky Sports News.

"It's a situation that you hope never to have to deal with. What you try to do is deal with it as effectively as you possibly can.

"The games that have been postponed are games where there has been a direct link to Phil and to Motherwell.

"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.

"We've asked for a minute's applause to be held before each of the games today. 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."

Dundee United requested the postponement following a meeting between distraught players and manager Craig Levein at Tannadice on Tuesday.

Defender Lee Wilkie branded the SPL's decision "stupid and arrogant" but Blair added: "What we got yesterday was an understandable and emotional response because its been a traumatic period for all of us.

"But, on balance, we felt that the appropriate way to remember and to honour Phil was for those games to go ahead and to provide the supporters of the Scottish Premier League teams with the opportunity to join with both the players and the match officials at the game in demonstrating that respect.

"In situations like this, there are no easy answers. In situations like this, there is absolutely certain to be conflicting opinions.

"If there are people who feel we should have made a different decision, then I fully respect their right to hold that view."

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