Nicola Sturgeon has taken Celtic to task over a quote that the club is in Dubai for ‘R and R’.
Sports clubs are permitted to travel abroad for matches and training purposes but the First Minister commented on pictures that suggested that the trip wasn’t entirely for training purposes. On Sunday a picture appeared showing Neil Lennon and Scott Brown drinking on sun loungers at the side of a pool.
Sturgeon did acknowledge that the trip was approved by the Sottish Government in November but added that the regulations may be reviewed on the back of the images emerging from Dubai.
? WATCH: First Minister Nicola Sturgeon addresses Celtic’s trip to Dubai.
“I’ve seen some photographs.. that would raise a question in my mind about whether all the rules of what elite players have to do within their bubbles around social distancing are being complied with”. pic.twitter.com/k65p0PpqGV
— Clyde 1 Superscoreboard (@ClydeSSB) January 5, 2021
First Minister on Celtic’s trip to Dubai: ”I’ve seen some photographs… that would raise a question in my mind about whether all the rules of what elite players have to do within their bubbles around social distancing are being complied with…
— Raman Bhardwaj (@ramanbhardwajTV) January 5, 2021
With “elite sport” continuing, @NicolaSturgeon issues a warning to clubs, saying “don’t abuse” the leeway you have been given. She says the purpose of a Celtic trip to Dubai and photos suggesting breaches of social distancing bubbles there “should be looked into.”
— James Cook (@BBCJamesCook) January 5, 2021
.@NicolaSturgeon sturgeon on Celtic trip to Dubai: we gave SFA advice over elite training camps but not up to us to sign off travel plans. Question is the purpose of them being there. I’ve seen photographs. There may be questions around bubbles. There are things to be looked at.
— Chris McLaughlin (@BBCchrismclaug) January 5, 2021
As I said yesterday, Sturgeon clarifies her questions around Celtic in Dubai is not about them being allowed to go but more about what is actually going on as she’s seen photographs and some comments from the club saying it was for R&R.
It’s a bad look as the majority said.
— Tam McKinlay (@tammckinlay9) January 5, 2021
Celtic responded sharply to a statement from the Scottish Government regarding the trip to Dubai, giving November 12 as the date that the trip was approved.
Over the last four years they have travelled to the same training centre but clearly this year the circumstances are very different with the timing coming as Scotland moved back into lockdown.
