CELTIC have been charged by the SPFL for breaching “Covid-19 requirements and testing regulation” as a result of the actions of Bolingoli. The Coronavirus Joint Response Group posted an update last night confirming that the players as well as the clubs would have charges brought against them.
The left-back’s trip to Spain means that should Celtic be found guilty, there is no maximum or minimum to what punishment they receive.
A three person panel will hear the case on August 28 with Celtic set to battle their corner, claiming they have been at the forefront of implementing and promoting the regulations and that they are not vicariously responsible for the actions of the Belgian defender.
The new rules imposed by the SFA and SPFL allow for clubs and players to be charged with breaking the rules and detail how the punishments range for a variety of different breaches. Whilst Celtic and Aberdeen fume at the individuals, the footballing authorities are seeking to make an example out of those that threatened to have politicians step into the football arena call for games to be paused indefinitely.
Celtic’s games against St Mirren and Aberdeen were cancelled as a result of Bolingoli’s actions and with the news coming so soon after the Aberdeen outbreak, Nicola Sturgeon was tempting to pull the plug on the new season.
Aberdeen were also fined for eight players breaching protocol and they too will argue their case. Hopefully this will be an end to the scandal and players take seriously that the virus is still a threat and that they are in a privileged position in society whereby people expect them to stick to the rules and play games.
