Player’s positive test could force Lennon to field weakened team

from the Scottish Government in November.

When pictures duly emerged online showing players and staff consuming alcohol beside a swimming pool, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon questioned the purpose of the trip and called for the SFA to investigate.

The governing body at Hampden declined to do so on the basis that the trip had been given Scottish Government a pproval a nd Sportsmail understands that r e mains the case des pi t e yesterday’s development.

But the furore surrounding the decision to travel to a country experiencing a recent spike in Covid cases is unlikely to abate any time soon.

Last night, a l eading public health professor expressed her astonishment that the club had pressed ahead with its plans amid an ever-changing situation.

And Dr Linda Bauld, of the University of Edinburgh, warned Celtic that more players could be forced to self-isolate after the positive test for Covid-19.

She tweeted: ‘I’d be very confident that any contacts including while travelling will be required to selfisolate, using existing definitions of a close contact.

‘Plus the club needs to ensure that the player is isolating. That will protect others. Quite astonishing that they went to Dubai.’

In November, 11 Scotland Under-21 players were forced to isolate when three players — including Celtic’s David Turnbull — tested positive after returning from Greece.

Asked last week if he had any health concerns about f acing Celtic post- Dubai, Hibernian manager Jack Ross replied: ‘ No, none at all.’

Speaking on Saturday, Celtic assistant manager John Kennedy admitted the club had been guilty of ‘minor slip-ups’ in Covid-19 protocols during their stay in the Middle East.

Kennedy said the photos in question had given a ‘ bleak’ but ‘false’ impression, adding: ‘ We stayed in our bubble. You guys back here got a snapshot of one or two pictures from locals and it probably paints a false picture.

‘There’s been slip-ups with minor things which, if you get a snapshot of something, you can criticise and jump on.

‘We speak to the players as much as we can about the protocols. If there’s any error we try to eradicate that or fix it, and that’s what we did. The photo maybe paints a bleak picture, but we have to move on.

‘The government and SFA have said there’s not really a case to answer. We’ve submitted what we’ve done every day and the protocols we put i n place to minimise any risk, and they seem quite content.’

Kennedy claimed the trip was ‘made to look worse’ by their time in Dubai coinciding with Scotland being put into lockdown.

‘It’s a difficult one because there was so much work put in and I do understand the situation,’ he added.

‘But the latest lockdown did come when we were in Dubai, so we had travelled out there thinking everything was okay. We went over on our own flight, we didn’t mingle with anyone.

‘In terms of the protocols in Dubai, the hotel gave us our own areas. We had our own eating places, our own meeting areas, our own entrance and exits. We were kept aside.’

Confirming the positive case last night, a club statement read: ‘Celtic today confirmed that one player has recorded a positive test for Covid-19.

‘The player will receive all our care and full support.

‘All other members of our squad, management team and backroom squad are negative.’

Speaking before the positive result emerged, Professor Jason Leitch confirmed that Celtic were within their rights to go to the UAE.

But Scotland’s clinical director questioned the wisdom of anyone visiting a state which has double the level of infections of this country.

‘The rules are that professional sports people can go on winter training camps,’ he said.

‘They are not allowed just to go on a holiday, like the rest of us aren’t. But that winter camp is allowed. Now that is a judgment for the authorities and the clubs.

‘That exemption — if they stay within their bubble — means they don’t have to quarantine when they come back.

‘But I should tell you that the UAE yesterday had 5,000 cases, nearly double the Scottish number. So there is a lot of Covid in Dubai.’

Celtic’s elite status ensured they had no requirement to isolate upon returning from Dubai. However, the escalating number of cases in the Emirate has promoted the Scottish Government to impose a ten- day period of isolation for ordinary passengers from today — with the measure backdated to anyone arriving since January 3.

Speaking on Friday ahead of a number of Scottish Cup ties with untested lower-league players facing each other, Sturgeon warned that if sport ‘ does not stick to the restrictions, then all bets are off.’

It’s understood there is a growing realisation within the game that League One downwards is becoming increasingly less viable and that the pause button may be pressed.