Bolingoli’s Spanish holiday could kill off Celtic’s Champions League campaign
Soccer Football - Champions League - Round of 16 Second Leg - Bayern Munich v Chelsea - Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany - August 8, 2020 General view of a matchball, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) REUTERS/Michael Dalder
Boli Bolingoli’s trip to Spain has cast a doubt over Celtic’s participation in the Champions League.
The defender returned from his holiday on August 4 or 5 with the First Minister stating today that she doesn’t expect to see Celtic playing this week.
First Minister says she would expect Celtic and Aberdeen matches not to go ahead in the next week.
— Chris McLaughlin (@BBCchrismclaug) August 11, 2020
BREAKING! Celtic and Aberdeen games OFF as Nicola Sturgeon fires fresh warning to Scottish footballhttps://t.co/TkgXM5hTH2 pic.twitter.com/8YSylVp4HL
— Daily Record Sport (@Record_Sport) August 11, 2020
UEFA have announced that Celtic’s First Round qualifier against KR Reykjavic will be played on August 18.
That date could be put back 24 hours or in a worst case scenario Celtic could be forced to forfeit the tie causing untold chaos to the season ahead- one without fans and possibly any European matches.
When two Aberdeen players tested positive they had to self isolate for 10 days with the six others for 14 days. Bolingoli has apparently tested negative but he was in contact with Celtic players as recently as August 9 at Kilmarnock.
On August 8 BBC Scotland reported that a Motherwell player was in 10 days of self isolation after a positive test even though the follow up came back as negative.
When self isolation starts and ends is anyone’s guess, as is the impact of a two day break in Spain on Celtic’s season.
Celtic waited until after 11am to announce that Bolingoli would be subjected to internal club discipline, a decision that didn’t go down well with fans.
Last July Celtic paid a reported £2.5m to Rapid Vienna for Bolingoli, it could be one of the most costly transfers in the club’s history.
UEFA have set aside August 18 and 19 for the First Round qualifiers.