‘HUMILIATED’ DONS EIGHT HIT WITH FINES
● Disciplinary action also looming for Celtic and Dons as SPFL launch action
Aberdeen chairman Dave Cormack admits actions of the players who broke Covid protocols were ‘indefensible’
Celtic defender Boli Bolingoli and the eight Aberdeen players who breached coronavirus protocols could all face suspension after the Scottish FA charged them with failing to comply with the laws of the game and bringing it into disrepute.
Both clubs will also face disciplinary action from the SPFL for alleged breaches of Covid-19 requirements and testing regulations.
The actions of the nine players have taken Scottish football to the brink of another shutdown after the Dons players broke social distancing rules by visiting a city bar. Two of them later tested positive for
Covid-19 and the other six were forced into self-isolation.
Bolingoli took an unsanctioned trip to Spain, failed to quarantine on his return and then played for Celtic against Kilmarnock. He has since tested negative but the nine players’ recklessness has caused fixture chaos, with three Aberdeen matches and two Celtic games postponed at the insistence of First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who said she was issuing the sport a yellow card.
Aberdeen and Celtic both apologised and lambasted the transgressors, with the Pittodrie club announcing that their players have been heavily fined, with all the money being donated to NHS Grampian.
In his statement, Dons chairman Dave Cormack said his players had “been taught the harshest of lessons”. “Their actions were indefensible but the investigation has been completed,” said the Pittodrie chief.
“They have apologised, they have been punished by the club, and are suffering the humiliation that goes with making a mistake in the public eye. The club, like every employer, has a duty of care to its staff and we must also consider the wellbeing of these players, who continue to face an ongoing barrage of criticism and personal abuse from many quarters.”
The eight players involved were Jonny Hayes, Scott Mckenna, Sam Cosgrove, Craig Bryson, Bruce Anderson, Dylan Mcgeouch, Matty Kennedy and Michael Devlin.
Bolingoli was fined by the police and is the subject of disciplinary action from the club and has been linked with a loan move to French side Amiens having seemingly burned his bridges at Celtic.
None of that was enough to stave off further disciplinary action from the game’s governing bodies as they seek to convince the Scottish government that they have control of the situation. Further sanctions have already been put in place aimed at educating players and clubs and ensuring that social distancing, hygiene measures and testing protocols are being upheld.
On Thursday, they also took the controversial decision to halt the return to training for clubs outwith the Premiership until at least 24 August. It prompted claims that others were being punished for the misdemeanours of the nine players. But, yesterday, those responsible for the mess were called to a hearing to be held on 28 August. the sf a alleges that the nine have breached disciplinary rules 24 and 71, which could see them facing anything from a two to eight-game ban.