Match Pictures | Matches: 2021 – 2022
Trivia
- Match Postponed:
- These matches have been postponed due to Bolingoli
https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/news/coronavirus-joint-response-group-update-11-august/?rid=13929
- Was to be a Saturday game, 3pm kickoff
- Bolingoli: broke strict quarantine rules with secret trip to Spain before playing against Kilmarnock without club knowledge and failed to quarantine on his return. The Scottish government says it could call a halt to Scottish football. Disaster and unbelievable irresponsible behaviour. Many calls for his removal & sacking.
- FM Nicola Sturgeon warned: “as a minimum, you should not be expecting to see Aberdeen or Celtic play over the course of the coming week”, after their players broke lockdown rules.
- SFA Covid response team postponed 2x Aberdeen & Celtic games.
- Second tier Hearts say they are “incensed” at being ordered to stop training by the Scottish FA and SPFL. The decision was announced after talks between the SFA/SPFL Joint Response Group and Scottish Government ministers, but they have strongly objected
- Sevco 0-0 with Livvie and Hibs drop pts too, so Celtic back in it as long as Celtic can win games in hand.
- Former Celtic striker Moussa Dembele came off the bench to score a dramatic late double as Lyon stunned Manchester City to reach the Champions League semi-finals for the first time in a decade.
- Transfers:
- Celtic have completed the signing of striker Albian Ajeti. 4 year contract. He joins from West Ham in a £5m deal.
- Celtic are in competition reportedly with West Ham, West Brom and Burnley for Republic of Ireland defender Shane Duffy; reports (social media) claiming he’s signed or will be signing next week.
- Sky claiming: French club Amiens SC have made a loan bid for Celtic’s #COVID19 rule-breaker Boli Bolingoli. the Ligue 2 side’s loan offer includes an option to buy at the end of the season, for a fee of £2.3m.
- Celtic linked with a move for ex-Celt Oliver Burke; no one is convinced this is true or that it would be of value.
- Marian Shved has joined Belgian club, KV Mechelen, on a season-long loan, subject to international clearance.
- Steven Fletcher allegedly chose Stoke City over a possible move to Celtic because he was “messed around” by the Parkhead club, according to former Hibs team-mate Tam McManus.
Summary
Shambles of a situation
Articles
Sturgeon: Aberdeen and Celtic should not play after Covid breaches
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-53736447
Celtic and Aberdeen should not be playing matches this week after their players broke lockdown rules, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said.
Celtic defender Boli Bolingoli flew to Spain without the club’s knowledge, failed to quarantine, then played in Sunday’s match against Kilmarnock.
Ms Sturgeon said this was a “flagrant breach” of the guidelines.
The previous weekend eight Aberdeen players broke lockdown regulations by visiting a bar together.
Ms Surgeon told her daily briefing: “As a minimum, you should not be expecting to see Aberdeen or Celtic play in the coming week.”
Follow the latest news on coronavirus in Scotland
The first minister said she did not want rule-abiding clubs and players, plus fans, to be punished for the individual breaches.
But she warned: “Consider today the yellow card. The next time it will be the red card because you will leave us with absolutely no choice.”
What games were scheduled?
St Mirren v Celtic – Wednesday, 12 August at 18:00
Aberdeen v Hamilton – Wednesday, 12 August at 19:45
Celtic v Aberdeen – Saturday, 15 August at 15:00
Ms Sturgeon said news of Bolingoli’s breach came through while the national clinical director, Professor Jason Leitch, was holding a meeting with the managers and captains of Scotland’s top flight clubs to reinforce the importance of the guidance.
She said: “This is just not acceptable.
“Every day I stand here and ask members of the public to make huge sacrifices on how they live their lives. The vast majority are doing that and it’s not easy. We can’t have privileged football players just deciding that they are not going to bother. This can’t go on.”
Talks are continuing with the football authorities, and an update is expected later on Tuesday.
Ms Sturgeon indicated “very clear penalties” will be in place for players and clubs when the rules are breached.
Image copyright BBC Sport
Image caption Boli Bolingoli said he was “guilty of an error of judgement”
The first minister said footballers are “talented, skilled, hard-working professionals” and “well-rewarded” role models.
But she added: “I don’t think it is too much to ask them to live up to that, and that is all we are asking.”
Prof Leitch said footballers who flout the regulations pose a risk to public health and endanger the return of all elite sport.
He said Bolingoli had travelled to a “high risk country” then went to work and “put both his team and the opposing team at risk of catching coronavirus.
“There has to be an implication of that in public health terms for those he was in contact with and their contact with others.”
Image copyright SNS
Image caption Eight Aberdeen players are self-isolating
Bolingoli played in Sunday’s match against Kilmarnock even though he should have been self-isolating.
The defender said he was “guilty of an error of judgement” and apologised.
Celtic apologised and said his actions were “beyond explanation”. All players and backroom staff have since been tested twice and returned negative results.
Eight Aberdeen players have apologised for visiting a bar at the centre of a Covid-19 outbreak.
Two of the players later tested positive for the virus, while six are currently self-isolating.