Celtic have responded to speculation from BBC Scotland that they broke protocols when they took their team picture for the 20/21 season. That is the picture with three trophies at the front unlike any other top flight team.
Dundee United’s coaching staff and nine players have had to self-isolate after they staged a massive team picture involving their first team, youth side and coaches who all have separate bubbles to work within.
The prospect of Celtic breaking rules was too good to pass up with Tom English keen to promote the idea live on BBC Sportsound this afternoon.
Tom english has brought up the Selik team photo up on sportsound just there. #inshock
— ??Scuba Steve?? (@stephdufc83) December 5, 2020
Tom English just mentioned the Celtic photo
— arthur kenny (@arthurkenny2) December 5, 2020
?? ?????? ??? ?????? at the #CelticFC 2020/21 team photoshoot!
Free giant A2 squad poster in this week’s @CelticView – out tomorrow ? pic.twitter.com/1SnRfhQI8B
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) November 17, 2020
A Celtic spokesperson told BBC Scotland:
The photo was taken and published weeks ago and undertaken within all established protocols. We will happily discuss this with the Scottish Government, should they wish to do so.
Celtic’s own stringent protocols have ensured that, to date, following thousands of individual tests, we have recorded no positive cases within our squad, with the only cases affecting the club being recorded while our players have been on international duty.
The Celtic picture involved the first team squad, the players that travelled to Loughborough and France together, the players that have shared a plane and hotels for five European away matches this season.
Celtic have fallen foul of failings from the SFA after releasing players for international duty. Despite his protests otherwise Ryan Christie was ruled to have been a close contact of Stuart Armstrong in October while David Turnbull tested positive after being with the Scotland u-21 squad in France last month.
Will be hoping that @TEnglishSport issues an apology to Celtic tomorrow re the photo. Jumped in with two feet on that one. Surely as a journalist u should find out about a topic before making assumptions ?
— Scott? (@Mackay1981) December 5, 2020