Rangers fans have slammed Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell for his bizarre claim that the Hoops have been affected more than any other club by Covid-19.

Celtic have come under heavy criticism over the past week for their decision to fly to Dubai for a camp immediately after their 1-0 Old Firm defeat at Ibrox on 2 January.

Rangers v Celtic - Ladbrokes Scottish Premiership

An owl goal from Callum McGregor saw Rangers triumph 1-0. (Photo by Craig Williamson/SNS Group via Getty Images)

Despite players and staff being snapped poolside on sunloungers and Nicola Sturgeon questioning whether or not protocol had been followed, various figures from the club had defended the trip.

Yet, in an interview with CelticTV on Wednesday afternoon, Lawwell issued an apology, saying “looking with hindsight and looking at the outcome, clearly it was a mistake.”

Had the Hoops chief left it there, some may have considered the matter closed.

However, the interview lasted for several more minutes and when discussing the hardships brought about over the past year by Covid-19, he said: “This horrific pandemic has affected the whole of society, it’s affected people here in Scotland, it’s affected our supporters, it’s affected our football and it’s affected our club, probably our club more than any.”

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It’s a stunning take from Celtic’s chief exec just days after all Scottish leagues below the Championship were suspended for at least three weeks, with affected clubs considering putting staff members on furlough as a result.

Rangers fans have slammed Celtic chief exec Peter Lawwell for his latest comments. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Fellow Glasgow club Partick Thistle, for example, have had to deal with blow after blow during the pandemic, with the Jags harshly relegated from the second-tier last season as Celtic were awarded the Premiership title on a points-per-game basis.

The comments provoked furious responses from across Scottish football, with Rangers fans heavily critical of Lawwell.

Here’s a selection of reactions from Twitter:

 

The SFA’s recent decision to halt all but the top two divisions has left a number of Rangers loanees in limbo, while an SPFL member club has called for drastic changes to the Scottish game.

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