January 14 – Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell has apologised to supporters after admitting that embarking on a warm-weather training camp in Dubai at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic was a mistake.
At first Celtic defended their decision, insisting the recent trip was “approved by all relevant footballing authorities” as well as the Scottish Government.
But the five-day camp, with photos emerging of members of the Celtic party not distancing or wearing face coverings, prompted a savage backlash on social media which intensified when 12 first-team players were forced to self-isolate along with three members of the coaching staff on their return.
Speaking to Celtic TV, Lawwell said: “The outcome was clearly very regrettable. On refection, looking back and looking with hindsight and looking at the outcome of the trip, clearly it was a mistake and for that I profoundly apologise to our supporters.
“This horrific pandemic has affected the whole of society. It’s affected people here in Scotland, it’s affected our supporters, it’s affected our football and it’s affected our club – probably our club more than any.”
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