SCOTTISH FOOTBALL
Celtic defend Dubai trip as 13 players and manager self-isolate
Celtic manager Neil Lennon and 13 players are isolating due to coronavirus but the club insists "rigorous" protocols were followed in Dubai.
Celtic confirmed on Monday that manager Neil Lennon and 13 senior players are self-isolating, but the club are still defending the decision to hold a training camp in Dubai.
Celtic claim Dubai trip not key to covid-19 infection
Defender Christopher Jullien tested positive for covid-19 after the team returned to Scotland ahead of Monday's Premiership clash with Hibernian.
Although all other squad and staff members returned negative tests, Lennon, assistant John Kennedy and 13 first-team players are self-isolating after being deemed close contacts.
The reigning champions remain insistent they followed "rigorous" covid-secure protocols and that the threat of contracting the virus would have been similarly high had they stayed in Scotland.
In a statement, Celtic said: "Clearly we are hugely disappointed, as we know our supporters will be. The contacts were identified during the period from Wednesday last week, primarily around flight and team coach travel, during which time Celtic applied the same rigorous protocols used for pre-season training camps, UEFA match travel and for all domestic match arrangements in Scotland.
"These protocols have served us well in the past, as the club has not had one positive case in our own 'bubble' until now. As we have already stated, Celtic's decision to travel to Dubai for a training camp was for performance reasons. Whilst we were in Dubai, the announcements made on January 4 significantly changed the covid landscape.
"The reality is that a case could well have occurred had the team remained in Scotland, as other cases have done in Scottish football and across UK sport in the past week.
"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."