Celtic confirm 13 players must isolate after Dubai trip

Defender Christopher Jullien tested positive for Covid-19 and is now self-isolating.

However, after it emerged Christopher Jullien had returned a positive Covid-19 test, Celtic have now confirmed in a statement that they have been informed that 13 players, along with manager Neil Lennon and assistant John Kennedy, must now self-isolate - despite returning negative tests.

All 15 members of staff will also be absent for Saturday's Scottish Premiership game at home against Livingston. 'We wish Christopher a speedy recovery.

Scottish FA president Rod Petrie said: "While the national sport has been afforded the privilege of elite sporting exemption, the risk of mass transportation of untested, largely part-time players is something that can not be sustained as the cases continue to rise and available hospital beds become increasingly scarce".

Hibs have consulted their players over whether they feel comfortable or not participating in this evening's match against Celtic.

"I know that what I'm about to say won't please everyone, nothing I can say about football ever pleases everyone, but as I have said before, I do have doubts based on how the club itself described it, doubts about whether Celtic's trip to Dubai was really essential", she said.

Celtic said they had applied rigorous protocols for their trip, which they insisted had been for "performance reasons".

'It is the same format as previous years, obviously with one significant difference being the protocols in place for Covid, but we hope that we get the same lift from it and can go on another great run in the New Year as we did last season, that's our real focus just now'. Whilst we were in Dubai, the announcements made on 4 January significantly changed the Covid landscape.

With all football below Scotland's top two tiers halted due to rising coronavirus cases, this news had thrown Celtic's match against Hibernian into doubt.

Rod Petrie, Scottish FA president, said: "The Scottish FA is well aware of the efforts all clubs take to comply with the exacting protocols that were conditional on elite football being given an exemption to continue amid the pandemic".

"While the national sport has been afforded the privilege of elite sporting exemption, the risk of mass transportation of untested, largely part-time players is something that can not be sustained as the cases continue to rise and available hospital beds become increasingly scarce".