Dubai trip damages football’s reputation

Sir, – As own goals go, this one could have been avoided.

Even by Celtic’s own wretched defending standards this season, they must have predicted that flying out to Dubai whilst the rest of us endure another national lockdown could only end in scathing condemnation

I acknowledge Celtic’s point that when their mid-winter break was planned they were given the all-clear by the authorities.

However, surely a sports team – of all organisations – must be capable of adjusting and adapting to ever-changing landscapes.

For Celtic not to call off the trip in the wake of sudden and unprecedented Covid variant danger is putting two fingers up to the rest of Scottish society – not to mention their own loyal support.

It apparently matters not a jot to them that whilst they kick back on their poolside loungers the rest of us are frantically home-schooling children and trying to put bread on the table with everdiminishing income.

Terms such as furlough, redundancy and dole are no doubt alien to those on the Parkhead payroll.

That said, it is not essentially the players who are to blame here but the board of directors who should be searching their conscience.

Goodness knows why Celtic’s superior facilities in Scotland were not good enough.

The real irresponsibility of Celtic’s selfish and insensitive actions will not simply lie in damage to the club’s reputation but the disrepute it brings to the wider game. Professional football, an ‘elite sport’ as the government likes to classify it, currently enjoys a fair degree of licence and privilege not granted to most of us who are obliged to observe strict Covid protocol.

It might just be that Celtic’s refusal to play the game will convince the politicians that football cannot be trusted to run its own affairs without abusing its extremely privileged position within Scottish society.

Jamie Buchan.

Grove Road,

Dundee.