SPFL release statement on Covid-19 situation as Celtic watch problems unfold

By John McGinley

December 17, 2021

Celtic players and staff will now have to test every day under new guidelines published by the SPFL, Scottish FA and Joint Response Group this evening.

The Scottish Government have been releasing information all week on the rise of the ‘Omicron’ variant of Covid-19, with Nicola Sturgeon again returning to regular briefings on the situation.

Naturally, the football industry has been alerted, especially in the wake of confirmed cases at Dundee United and St Mirren in recent days.

In fact the Paisley side, who face Celtic in just 5 days, have suspended first-team training as they get to grips with the scale of the problem.

Tonight the Scottish FA and SPFL released a joint statement on how they want clubs to act over the coming period: “From Monday, testing provision will be increased among cinch Premiership clubs until the scheduled winter break commencing January 3 and will be reviewed prior to the resumption of the fixture calendar in the New Year.

“Clubs in the cinch Premiership will now be required to undertake daily testing for all playing and team staff as part of the enhanced protocols.

“In addition, all clubs are advised to demonstrate enhanced vigilance with public health guidance, including physical distancing, wearing of face coverings while indoors, and to reiterate the importance of hand sanitising regularly.

“The JRG has also been in touch with Scottish Government to offer football stadia for use as vaccine centres to help the collective effort to roll-out the vaccine booster programme.

“We are grateful to the clubs for their collective endorsement of these enhanced measures and for the ongoing commitment to achieving full vaccination and booster vaccinations for their playing staff and team staff.”

I’d be surprised if Celtic weren’t one of the strictest clubs in the country around Covid-19 protocols already considering how damaging events that unfolded last season were.

Ange Postecoglou has never said he would demand vaccinations from his players but heavily hinted they would get advice to earlier in the season.

Hopefully Celtic can come through this period unscathed. The squad isn’t in amazing shape as it is with injuries. Covid absences could really wreak havoc with Postecoglou’s selection options.

Still, looking optimistically, we haven’t heard anything negative about the way Celtic are handling the pandemic at all this season. It looks like a case of lessons learned.

In other news, Celtic star’s brilliant comments on Ange; what’s being said behind-the-scenes to boost Bhoys.