Celtic FC: Nicola Sturgeon says Celtic should not abuse coronavirus privileges and has doubts trip to Dubai was really 'essential'

The First Minister said she was “disappointed and frustrated” to be facing another briefing where football and elite sports that enjoy “a number of privileges” are at the forefront.
Nicola Sturgeon says Celtic should not abuse coronavirus privileges and has doubts trip to Dubai was really 'essential'Nicola Sturgeon says Celtic should not abuse coronavirus privileges and has doubts trip to Dubai was really 'essential'
Nicola Sturgeon says Celtic should not abuse coronavirus privileges and has doubts trip to Dubai was really 'essential'

In her daily coronavirus briefing the First Minister said that, after seeing pictures of the football club in Dubai, she has doubts about whether they were truly adhering to coronavirus restrictions.

She said it would be impossible for her not to address the current situation unfolding regarding Celtic Football Club as she “has doubts” that the club trip to Dubai was “really essential”.

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This morning, news broke that Celtic will be without at least 13 players plus three members of staff for tonight’s match against Hibs after a large section of the first-team squad were ordered into self-isolation after one player tested positive for coronavirus upon his return from a Dubai training camp.

The First Minister said: “Right now, the rest of us don't have these privileges which include the right to go to overseas training camps, and be exempt from quarantine on return, and this is really vital obviously for public health reasons, but I think also, out of respect for the rest of the population living under really heavy restrictions, that it is also vital that these privileges are not abused.”

The First Minister said that as with any situation like this, the football authorities decide if further action is needed but she clarified that they need to consider the situation carefully and take this as an example of why everyone, including footballers should be “erring on the side of caution”.

She continued: “I would hope that Celtic themselves will reflect seriously on all of this, the overriding message for everybody right now is that we are in the midst of a very severe global pandemic for Scotland, this is the most perilous, and serious position since the start of the pandemic.”

A club statement read: "Celtic has done everything it can to ensure we have in place the very best procedures and protocols. From the outset of the pandemic, Celtic has worked closely with the Scottish Government and Scottish football and we will continue to do so.”

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