Christie hits out at ‘ridiculous’ decision

RYAN CHRISTIE has hit out at the ‘ridiculous’ decision to enforce a 14 day quarantine for the player. The player repeatedly tested negative but the rules mean that he had to sit at home while Celtic suffered with a shortage on options.

As reported by The Daily Record, Christie has admitted that it was frustrating being forced to miss the match against Rangers but especially after the amount of protocols that the players need to follow.

“I get it in normal walks of life when normal people come into contact and it is different if they are not getting tested as regularly as we are, or in as controlled an environment as we are.

“You can see how restrictive it is, how many rules are in place, how many protocols we follow.

Christie missed The Glasgow Derby last weekend after being identified as a close contact by the NHS Track and Trace team after Stuart Armstrong tested positive. He returned as a second half substitute versus AC Milan and had an immediate impact as Celtic threatened to mount a comeback. On the right hand side drifting in, Christie and Rogic linked up well and helped give Celtic.

“I just felt when I’m sitting on the couch and have someone coming to test me every morning and the next day I’m getting a text saying I’m negative again, I was left thinking: How long does this really need to go on for before it is just getting a bit ridiculous?”

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Christie suggests that the Scottish Government should consider revising the protocols and said that Celtic had tried to open dialogue but weren’t able to get the player cleared to face Steven Gerrard’s side. Bewilderingly, Kieran Tierney was identified like Christie but he was cleared to face Man City for Arsenal in the Premier League.

“Maybe it is a rule that can be looked at. I was in constant communication with them about what we could do to try and talk to the government and the bodies who decide these things.

“To show, I was tested five or six times over the time and every single one of them came back negative.

“I know there is a so-called bedding-in period for the virus, but you need to wonder when it goes past common-sense that I need to stay in despite constant negative tests.”

Christie was signed from Inverness CT in 2015 with loan spells at ICT as well as Aberdeen before breaking into the Celtic first team. The failure to capture John McGinn from Hibs as well as Stuart Armstrong’s departure opened up a midfield vacancy for Christie that he seized with both hands.

The semi-final win over Hearts at Murrayfield announced Christie as a Celtic player. He scored, assisted and won a penalty as the club sealed their place in the final. Christie went from strength to strength and signed a three year deal in November 2019 but his best form came under Neil Lennon last season.

About Author

Born just as Celtic were stopping the Ten, Lubo98 follows Celtic home and away and helps run his local Celtic Supporters Club. He goes to all the games and is a Law Graduate. Has a particular fondness for Tom Rogic among the current Celts and both Lubo and Henrik form his earliest Celtic memories.

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