Footage has emerged on social media of Neil Lennon indirectly dropping Celtic in it with comments he made about their training camp in Dubai after the trip to Rangers.
A despondent Lennon was speaking to the media after his side went 19 points behind Rangers after a 1-0 Ibrox defeat and his comments appear to completely back up the complaints of First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.
Sturgeon complained about Celtic’s trip to Dubai in her daily press briefing and claimed that the situation with the Celtic Park club “should be looked into”.
“For me, the question for Celtic is what is the purpose of them being there,” said Sturgeon [BBC Sport].
“I’ve seen comments from the club that it’s more for R&R than training.
“I have also seen some photographs – and I don’t know the full circumstances – that would raise a question in my mind about whether all the rules elite players have to follow in their bubble around social distancing are being complied with.”
Celtic have previously responded to the criticism of their decision to head out to Dubai mid-pandemic by insisting it’s a “training camp” and claiming they had permission from the government.
But Sturgeon’s comments suggest that any government clearance to undertake the camp was based on strict guidelines.
“Elite sport has been in a privileged position and as long as that is the case it’s really important they don’t abuse it,” said Sturgeon.
“I saw their [Celtic’s] statement and have not spent a lot of time looking into it, but as I understand it the government gave advice to the Scottish FA about the rules around training camps in November.
“The world has changed quite a bit since then but it’s not our role to sign off what a club does around these training camps.
“The rules may have to change, but they were that elite sportspeople and teams can go overseas if it is important in the context of training and competitions.”
Celtic manager Neil Lennon obviously wouldn’t have known we’d be going into a national lockdown after the match on Saturday but he certainly suggested the camp wasn’t just about football.
Speaking to the Sky Sports cameras after the match Lennon clearly states that the camp is about getting some “R&R”.
“We lost this time last year, went on a brilliant run,” said Lennon.
“Wee bit of warm weather, let them get some R&R then come back and refresh and go again.”
So it’s not so much a training camp as it is a break away to clear their heads?
Has the Celtic boss dropped his team in it as they await bigger questions on their return to the country?
Rangers and the rest of the SPFL should be demanding action after the Parkhead side flagrantly put the season at risk.