Celtic confirm one player has tested positive for coronavirus following controversial trip to Dubai

Celtic have confirmed that one of their players has tested positive for coronavirus after the club returned from a controversial training camp in Dubai.

The Scottish Premiership champions’ squad were tested upon their return to Glasgow after spending six days in the United Arab Emirates.

A club statement said: ‘Celtic today confirmed that one player has recorded a positive test for Covid-19. Clearly the player will receive all our care and full support.

Celtic have confirmed one player has tested positive for Covid-19 after their trip to Dubai

The Scottish champions visited the Middle East as part of a warm weather training camp  

‘All other members of our squad, management team and backroom squad are negative.’

Despite the fact that Scotland was preparing to go back into lockdown, Neil Lennon and his squad were legally entitled to make the trip due to the exemption elite sport continues to enjoy in the middle of the pandemic. 

But the Parkhead club drew widespread criticism when photographs emerged online apparently showing players and staff drinking alcohol at their hotel.

Although that’s currently permitted in the UAE, the images led to the First Minister asking if the club were in Dubai for the right reasons.

Stressing that the trip had been arranged with the approval of the Scottish Government and the football authorities, though, Lennon said its only purpose was sporting benefit.

‘We are sure the camp will be really important for us,’ he said.

‘It is the same format as previous years, obviously with one significant difference being the protocols in place for Covid, but we hope that we get the same lift from it and can go on another great run in the New Year as we did last season, that’s our real focus just now.’

Nicola Sturgeon  questioned if the purpose of the trip tallied with the grounds which had seen exemptions for elite sports granted. 

‘For me, the question for Celtic – and I try to be diplomatic here – is not so much are they overseas at a training camp,’ she said. ‘It may be, given the changed circumstances, in future that won’t be appropriate.

‘That’s not really the question. What is the purpose of them being there? I’ve seen a comment from the club that said it’s more for R&R than it is for training.’

Sturgeon also said she had seen some of the photographs in question, saying it ‘raised a question’ whether ‘all the rules on what elite players have to do within their bubbles around social distancing are being complied with.’

She added: ‘There are things there that should be looked into.’    

More to follow.