It has just been announced that an unnamed Celtic player has just been confirmed to have contracted COVID-19. It is unclear if the player was in Dubai with the rest of the first team players.

Celtic football club have received major criticism over the last week due to their decision to travel to Dubai to attend a training facility. Pictures have circulated social media showing Celtic manager Neil Lennon and Celtic Captain Scott Brown lying by the poolside drinking pints with other groups of people laying next to them without any masks, causing both Celtic fans and non-Celtic fans alike to question the necessity of their trip.

Their trip was given approval by the Scottish Government as well as the Scottish Football Association back in November and they were still abroad when the second lockdown was announced. According to current guidelines those returning from Dubai don’t need to isolate, meaning Celtic will be playing their next match tomorrow night (the 11th of January 2021) against Hibs.

According to Track And Trace practices, only close contacts of ‘patient zero’ will have to isolate. It is unclear if any other players will have to isolate due to this case.

Celtic took to Twitter to announce the information. They 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. All other members of our squad, management team and backroom squad are negative.”