The Scottish Premier League have told clubs swine flu will only affect fixtures if their squads are decimated.

Rangers midfielder Jerome Rothen is believed to have contracted the virus and has returned to France for treatment.

Rothen missed the Champions League defeat by Stuttgart with what manager Walter Smith described as sinus problems but doctors now suspect he has the H1N1 virus.

The on-loan Paris St Germain midfielder will miss Saturday's SPL clash at Aberdeen but fixtures are unlikely to be affected unless there are widespread infections.

SPL secretary Iain Blair said: "In line with our long-standing policy and consistent with UEFA's recent announcement in respect of its competitions, as long as a club has enough eligible players to make up a squad, then their Clydesdale Bank Premier League matches will go ahead as scheduled.

"Other footballing authorities have communicated a similar position recently and we felt it was important that our clubs and their supporters understood our approach."