Celtic have been roundly condemned following their trip to Dubai
Chris Sutton has called out Peter Lawwell and Neil Lennon amid the fallout from Celtic’s Dubai trip.
It was confirmed on Monday that Christopher Jullien had tested positive for Covid-19, and that 13 players as well as manager Neil Lennon and assistant John Kennedy would all have to self-isolate.
The trip to Dubai had already proved contentious, with many expressing concerns over a non-essential journey being undertaken at the height of the pandemic.
Fans were also unimpressed with the sight of their team enjoying the sunshine so soon after going 19 points behind Rangers in the title race with a 1-0 defeat at Ibrox.
Sutton has taken issue with a particular section from an official statement released by the club on Monday.
After confirming Jullien’s positive test, they said: “The reality is that a case could well have occurred had the team remained in Scotland, as other cases have done in Scottish football and across UK sport in the past week.”
That line clearly has not washed with Sutton, who won four league titles and made 199 appearances during his time at Parkhead.
In a video posted on Twitter, Sutton said: “What an absolute mess Celtic are in, from top to bottom, and the current statement regarding Christopher Jullien and contracting Covid was an utter embarrassment.
“The club need to take ownership on this one and they haven’t done.
“Talking about the trip to Dubai being for ‘performance reasons’.
“Well, Christopher Jullien, we are told, is out long-term, he’s out for months, so the only place he’ll be performing in Dubai is on the treatment table or down by the swimming pool.
“And whether you agree with the trip to Dubai or not, well Christopher Jullien shouldn’t have been there. Absolutely shouldn’t have been there.
“And then the club saying in the statement that this case could have occurred in Scotland. Well, okay, that’s fine them saying that, but the fact of the matter is it may have occurred in Dubai with a player who shouldn’t have been there.
“This whole sorry mess sums up Celtic’s season. It’s a shambles from top to bottom.
“Peter Lawwell and Neil Lennon have to take responsibility on this one.
“The club have to take ownership and they haven’t done. They need to sort it out and sort it out now.”
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