SNP vs Celtic: Why their Covid showdown matters

Football and politics seldom mix well and especially not when it comes to Scotland’s Old Firm. Yet the SNP government in Edinburgh has got itself into a war of words with Celtic FC after the club’s squad flew out to Dubai for a training camp. Asked about the Parkhead side’s decision on BBC Radio Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon’s deputy John Swinney said:

I don’t think it’s a particularly great example to set. When we are asking members of the public to take on very, very significant restrictions on the way in which they live their lives, I think we have all got to demonstrate leadership on this particular question.

Scotland’s lockdown rules allow travel exemptions for ‘elite’ sports so that teams can compete but the loophole does not mention leaving the country merely for training. With Sturgeon announcing an ‘enhanced’ lockdown for all of mainland Scotland on Monday, it doesn’t look good when photographs of highly-paid footballers lazing by an Emirati swimming pool begin circulating on social media.