A news story highlighting the concerns of an Aberdeen football fan saw the Press and Journal banned from a pre-match press conference.

Aberdeen FC players refused to speak to reporters at the Aberdeen-based newspaper after it reported comments from a supporter who had spotted three of the club's injured players in a pub with their families rather than supporting their team at an away match that day.

The newspaper also explained the club's position on the matter - the players had been advised not to travel to the game while they were recuperating - but several of the players took issue with the story.

As a result the team as a whole agreed to a one-off press conference ban for the Press and Journal.

Reporter Stuart Darroch and photographer Kami Thomson were asked not to attend the press conference with Aberdeen player Ricky Foster prior to the club's match at Partick Thistle.

Access from representatives from other sections of the media was not restricted.

The Press and Journal is the latest regional newspaper to have fallen foul of club censorship after news articles were given the red card.

Earlier this year the Hull Daily Mail was forced to rely on unofficial sources for news about Hull City Football Club after the club banned the paper from speaking to players.

The Grimsby Telegraph was also previously forced to send a substitute reporter when its first team journalist was banned from the press box.

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