As the COVID crisis rumbles on today, Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, has revealed taht when the Hoops first spoke of a winter training camp, Dubai was not mentioned. In fact, the First Minister has revealed that when permission was sought for travel, the Scottish Government were under the impression that the team were heading to an alternative country.
During her COVID press briefing, The First Minister said, “On the point about Celtic. As I set out I think last week, my understanding is we gave the footballing authority for Celtic clarity on what the rules were and are and training camps for elite sport are permitted if it is in relation to performance or competition.
“We set out the rules, it is not the role of the Scottish Government. We are not formally on the Joint Response Group. It is not our role to give approval or not give approval to what a football team is doing.
“As I understand it, I think at the time when that clarity of the rules was given it was another country that they were planning on going to rather than Dubai and also, that was back in November.
“The world and the situation with Covid has changed quite a lot since then and the club itself described the trip to Dubai as R&R.”
“I know they are saying it was about performance but I do think there is doubt as to whether it was really a necessary thing for the club to have done.
“But that is for the club to reflect on.”
As this sorry saga rumbles on it does seem as though Celtic have numerous questions to answer