Forfar Athletic have confirmed that defender Adam Livingstone has not sustained any major damage following the neck injury that forced Tuesday evening's Scottish Challenge Cup match against Formartine United to be abandoned.

Livingstone was hurt in an aerial challenge early in the second half, at a point when Forfar were leading 1-0. Play was halted as he received treatment on the pitch before being taken by ambulance to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee.

The severity of the incident was enough for officials to call off the match entirely — a decision that underlines how seriously neck and spinal injuries are treated at all levels of the game, regardless of competition or division.

Livingstone was kept in hospital overnight for observation, but Forfar moved quickly on Wednesday morning to reassure supporters. In a statement released by the club, they said: "Following last night's injury, Adam was taken to Ninewells Hospital where X-ray results have not shown any major damage. Adam was kept in hospital overnight but we have been advised that, all being well, he should be allowed home later today."

The phrasing — "no major damage" — is cautious, as you would expect given the location of the injury. Clubs routinely hold back fuller assessments until a player has been seen by specialists and completed a thorough examination. Forfar have not yet indicated a timeline for Livingstone's return or whether further scans are scheduled.

Context: when are matches abandoned for player safety?

Abandonments due to player injury remain relatively rare in British football. Referees and match officials are guided by the principle that a game should only be halted permanently when conditions — whether weather, crowd safety, or a medical emergency — make it impossible or unsafe to continue.

A neck injury sustained in an aerial collision sits firmly in that category. Protocols around potential spinal trauma have become considerably more rigorous in recent years, with pitch-side medics trained to immobilise and stabilise a player before any movement takes place. The caution shown by all parties on Tuesday appears to have been well-founded: Livingstone was conscious and responsive, but a hospital stay was deemed necessary as a precaution.

For Forfar, the immediate concern is straightforwardly human — the wellbeing of one of their players. The question of when or how the abandoned tie is replayed is a matter for the Scottish FA and competition organisers to address in due course.

What happens next for Forfar and Formartine?

The Scottish FA's Challenge Cup rules will govern how the tie is resolved. Typically, an abandoned match is either replayed in full or, if the result is deemed to stand depending on when the abandonment occurred, the progression is confirmed administratively. Given that Forfar led 1-0 at the time of the abandonment — early in the second half — a full replay is the most likely outcome, though no official decision has been announced.

For now, the focus across both clubs will be on Livingstone's recovery. Wednesday's news is as positive as could reasonably be hoped for given the circumstances.

Frequently asked

Why was the Forfar vs Formartine Challenge Cup game abandoned?
The match was abandoned after Forfar Athletic defender Adam Livingstone suffered a neck injury in an aerial challenge early in the second half. Officials halted play permanently as a precaution while Livingstone received treatment and was taken to hospital.
How is Adam Livingstone after his neck injury?
Forfar Athletic confirmed on Wednesday that X-ray results at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee showed no major damage. Livingstone was kept in overnight but the club said he was expected to be allowed home later that day.
Will the Forfar vs Formartine Cup tie be replayed?
No official decision has been announced. Scottish FA Challenge Cup rules will determine the outcome — given the match was abandoned in the second half with Forfar leading 1-0, a full replay is the most likely course of action, but the governing body will confirm arrangements.