NO INVESTIGATION

SFA decide not to follow up on questions over Dubai trip

THE Scottish FA last night revealed that they would not investigate Celtic’s trip to Dubai despite calls from First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to “look into” the training camp.

Neil Lennon and his squad flew out to the Middle East on Saturday for a warm weather break on the back of a damaging derby defeat to Rangers which left them 19 points adrift in the Premiership title race.

The Scottish Government had called for the SFA to probe whether the club had broken special coronavirus exemptions, but Celtic responded on Monday evening to maintain they had done nothing wrong. It is understood that the SFA have decided not to investigate the Parkhead club as they believe all relevant parties were notified well in advance of the trip.

The First Minister said she had seen evidence suggesting the team’s trip was for “R and R” purposes as opposed to training when she was asked about the Glasgow side’s conduct at her daily coronavirus briefing on Tuesday.

Ms Sturgeon said: “For me, the question for Celtic – and I am trying to be diplomatic here – is not so much ‘ are they overseas at a training camp?’. It may be, given changing circumstances, that in future that won’t be appropriate. But that’s not really the question. It’s ‘ what is the purpose of them being there’? I’ve seen a comment from the club that said it’s more for R and R than it is for training.

“I have also seen some photographs – and I can only comment on what I have seen, I don’t know the full circumstances – that would raise a question in my mind about whether all the rules at what elite players have to do in their bubble around social distancing are being complied with. So I think there are things there that should be looked into.”

Sturgeon added that sports teams should not “abuse” their privileges, but Celtic manager Lennon was quick to defend his club. He responded to the First Minister’s statement saying: “As the club said yesterday, the camp was arranged some time ago, with the full consultation of the footballing authorities and given approval by the Scottish Government.”