NO POINT FOR HYPOCRITES
DEREK McINNES has blasted the hypocrites calling for Aberdeen to be docked points over their players’ coronavirus rules breaches.
Hibs owner Ron Gordon stirred the pot when he claimed he wouldn’t be opposed to hardline measures including points deductions for clubs whose players have stepped out of line.
But Dons boss McInnes reckons other Premiership clubs will be breathing a huge sigh of relief it’s not them in the firing line as he defended Aberdeen’s response to the crisis.
The Dons have been charged by the SPFL after eight of their players broke Covid-19 protocols, with two of them testing positive for the virus, resulting in their last three matches being postponed.
Celtic are also in the dock after Boli Bolingoli’s trip to Spain and failure to quarantine on his return.
The players could all be hit with bans of up to eight games while potential points penalties are hanging over the clubs.
Gordon claimed there would be support around the league for that.
But McInnes hit back: “It is easy for people to say certain things sitting from their position but ultimately it could be any club that has to suffer this and he has to be careful with what he is saying.
“Right across the country, it’s not just footballers or people in football who let their guard down over the last few weeks.
“A lot of people who have made comments need to look at themselves too, people in high positions have not been squeaky clean themselves.
“In terms of sanctions we have to be careful. There are a lot of hypocritical people out there who took a huge sigh of relief in Scottish football that we were the ones caught and we’ve had to take the full consequences of that.
“But not everybody has been squeaky clean and we’re aware of that.
“It’s important other clubs have that understanding and sympathy.
“We’ve not been reckless or careless. Sometimes these things happen and it could be Hibs next time, it could be anybody.”
McInnes added that Aberdeen have invested heavily to ensure Pittodrie and their Cormack Park training HQ meet the strict Covid protocols.
He said: “Our club, if you ask the JRG, all the protocol people whether it is the SPFL or SFA, we’ve been at the forefront of doing things right.
“We know at Cormack Park and Pittodrie we are safeguarding every employee.
“We’re reinforcing key messaging about what we can and can’t do.”