Michael Stewart and Chris Sutton react to Celtic Covid statement after Christopher Jullien returns positive test

Michael Stewart and Chris Sutton have both taken to Twitter to question Celtic’s handling of their Dubai training camp following confirmation from the club that a number of key figures have been forced to go into Coronavirus-related isolation.
Neil Lennon. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)Neil Lennon. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Neil Lennon. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

An official statement from the Hoops revealed on Monday morning that defender Christopher Jullien has tested positive for Covid-19, while manager Neil Lennon, assistant manager John Kennedy, and 13 first team players will go into isolation as a precautionary measure after being deemed to have come into close contact with the Frenchman.

The update comes after the Bhoys completed a controversial mid-season training camp in Dubai, but the club have insisted that strict protocols were followed in the Middle East, as well as claiming that “a case could well have occurred had the team remained in Scotland, as other cases have done in Scottish football and across UK sport in the past week”.

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But Stewart in particular took a less than lenient view of the debacle – especially given that Jullien, who returned the Hoops’ only positive test, is currently sidelined with a long-term knee injury.

Writing on his personal Twitter account, the pundit said: “The fact Celtic are now without 13 first team players, a manager and an assistant manager just further goes to show what an ill thought out idea it was to go to Dubai.

"These are not normal times and that trip should’ve been binned, plain and simple.

"On many levels the club have simply made too many poor decisions in the last year and the price of that is clear for all to see now.

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"The fact Christopher Julien, who is out for four months injured, went to Dubai, got Covid, and now 13 team mates, his manager, and assistant manager have to self-isolate sort of epitomises the whole saga.”

Former Parkhead striker Chris Sutton echoed Stewart’s sentiment in a tweet of his own, asking simply: “Why was Christopher Jullien in Dubai on a training camp?”

Celtic are due to face Hibernian on Monday evening, and with the game set to go ahead, will now have to contest that match with a vastly-weakened squad and without Lennon or Kennedy in the dugout.