Neil Lennon has responded in his usual direct manner to Hibernian’s chief, Ron Gordon, and his claims that points deductions would be a suitable punishment for clubs that breach Cover-19 regulations.
The Daily Record has reported that the Hoops gaffer has taken umbrage to his former employers comments towards Celtic’s issue with Boli Bolingoli that saw them have two fixtures postponed after the Belgian went “rogue“.
When asked about Gordon’s statement, Lennon fired back:
“It’s absolute nonsense. Certainly the forfeiting of points. People with glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.
“People say the club should take responsibility and we have held our hands up. It was something that was outwith the club’s control.
“We have been at the forefront of getting the game up and running in terms of procedures and protocols. It’s down to the actions of one individual, really.
“If we are accountable we will have to accept that and hold our hands up, take it and move on.
“What we don’t want is the game to shut down again or any more mishaps, if you want to call it that. Two clubs have been embroiled in this and it’s unfortunate for the club, players and staff.”
Short of removing passports from players and giving them curfews, there isn’t much more that the clubs can do to stop their players from breaking protocols and landing themselves in trouble.
Having to postpone fixtures is a big enough punishment in itself with Celtic set to be three games behind Rangers when they next kick-off against Dundee United, having to squeeze extra fixtures into an already crammed fixture calendar will be the last thing that managers want.
Should clubs be punished for player breaches of protocols?
Yes
No
Lennon’s comments were particularly barbed given the manner of his exit from Easter Road and because of Hibs own indiscretions with regard to Covid-19 protocols earlier in pre-season.
To put the argument into perspective, imagine potentially losing the league title because a disillusioned player has decided to contravene government advice, there is a time and a place for a club to take responsibility for the actions of their players and this – when instructions have been made perfectly clear – isn’t one of them, the Hoops gaffer hits the nail on the head, to suggest otherwise is utter “nonsense”.