CELTIC’S COVIDIOT
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NICOLA Sturgeon has handed Scottish football a yellow card after Aberdeen and Celtic players were caught breaching guidelines on lockdown and self-isolation.
The First Minister said she regretted that “some football players seem incapable of living up to their responsibilities” and warned the top flight could be suspended if there were further examples of rule-breaking from clubs.
Speaking at her daily media briefing, Sturgeon said: “This is just not acceptable. We can’t have privileged football players just deciding they are not going to bother.”
The SNP leader hit out after Celtic defender Boli Bolingoli flew to Spain without the club’s knowledge, failed to quarantine, then played in Sunday’s match against Kilmarnock.
Sturgeon said she did not want rule-abiding clubs and players to be punished for the individual breaches.
But she added: “Consider today the yellow card. The next time it will be the red card because you will leave us with absolutely no choice.”
Scotland’s clinical director Jason Leitch has already held talks with Premiership clubs after a group of Aberdeen players were spotted in a city centre bar last weekend before a local lockdown was implemented.
Sturgeon added: “Every day I stand here and ask members of the public to make huge sacrifices on how they live their lives.
“The vast majority are doing that and it’s not easy. We can’t have privileged football players just deciding that they are not going to bother. This can’t go on.”
Celtic apologised in a statement yesterday and said Bolingoli’s actions were beyond explanation. All players and backroom staff have since been tested twice and returned negative results.
But the Scottish Government has ordered Celtic and Aberdeen games to be postponed after the breaches.
The two teams were due to meet on Saturday but that has been postponed and the pair’s midweek games – against Hamilton and St Mirren respectively – are off.
The Scottish Government had admitted it was considering a suspension of football after the news broke but, as fresh talks between the Government and the football authorities continued yesterday afternoon, Sturgeon said: “As a minimum, you should not be expecting to see Aberdeen and Celtic play over the course of the coming week.” That was soon confirmed by Scottish football’s Joint Response Group. The SPFL has agreed to put in place punitive measures if other clubs or players break protocols as well as helping the Government get its public health messages across. It is understood friendlies between clubs will now not be authorised. Celtic condemned Bolingoli and apologised individually to their Premiership rivals. A statement added: “It is difficult to imagine a more irresponsible action in current circumstances and we find it beyond explanation. The club will take immediate action through our own disciplinary procedures. “All of our playing and backroom
staff have been tested twice for Covid-19 since this incident and all, including the player in question, have tested negative.
“While this comes as a relief to all concerned, it in no way diminishes the seriousness or stupidity of the player’s actions.”
Manager Neil Lennon added: “We were livid and appalled. We have been bitterly, sorely let down by the selfish actions of one individual.
“The actions of the individual are baffling. The players are angry, disappointed and frustrated.”
Scottish Football Association president Rod
Petrie admitted he and his fellow Joint Response Group members were “astounded” by Bolingoli’s actions.
He said: “We sympathise with the position this puts the Scottish Government in as the country is tentatively easing its way out of lockdown restrictions.
“Clubs and players are in no doubt that there is now no more margin for error and no more scope for further breaches.”
SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster added: “We have only been able to restart matches thanks to the enormous efforts and sacrifices of literally thousands of people across the Scottish game.
“For anyone to put that in jeopardy in such a thoughtless and selfish manner is just beyond belief.”
National clinical director Leitch added: “I share the disappointment of many fans at this setback.
“This is another example which unfortunately demonstrates that the current system is not working as intended and does not give me the confidence I need that the required protocols are being followed.” The local lockdown measures in Aberdeen are due to be reviewed this Wednesday.
Sturgeon said there have been 253 coronavirus cases in Aberdeen since the outbreak began on July 26.
More than half of these, 165, are associated with the outbreak linked to Aberdeen pubs.
Last night, Police Scotland confirmed Bolingoli had been fined £480 for breaking the Covid-19 rules.
Assistant Chief Constable Alan Speirs said: “A 25-year-old man has today been issued with a fixed penalty notice for breaching quarantine regulations.”