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Nicola Sturgeon
Photo: ANDY BUCHANAN / AFP
Scotland's Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon has sharply criticized a training camp run by the Celtic Football Club in Dubai.
Because of the obvious violations of the Celtic convoy against Corona regulations, the politician is demanding investigations against the football champions from Glasgow and warned that professional sport should not use its Corona privileges.
"Professional athletes should be able to train abroad in Corona times if it is important for their competitions," said Sturgeon.
“But after seeing pictures from Dubai, it looks more like rest and relaxation than training.
I really wonder why they went there and whether they obey all the rules.
That should be investigated. "
In addition to the already controversial trip to the sunny emirate, pictures published by Celtic with impressions of the relaxed to exuberant atmosphere in the camp of the Scots on the Gulf in home caused a sensation.
In the photos, members of the Glasgow travel group could be seen without mouth and nose protection and the disregard of distance rules could be seen.
Whether the Scottish association would react to the affair remained open at first.
Celtic countered criticism of the training camp that had arisen before Sturgeon's words by pointing out that the government had approved the trip.
In view of the worrying pandemic development in Scotland, however, the head of government considers the permit to be outdated: "The permit is from November."
It was not the first time that politicians felt compelled to intervene in the operations of the first soccer league.
In the summer, the government threatened to interrupt the season that had just started due to repeated violations of the Corona rules.
The trigger was a secret trip to Spain by Celtic player Boli Bolingoli.
Bolingoli's team-mate Leigh Griffiths had been warned beforehand for allegedly violating the distance rules at a party.
With regard to the Bolingoli case, the club had stated at the time: "Under the given circumstances, it is difficult to imagine more irresponsible behavior."
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