AS a Celtic supporter and long-time season ticket holder, I completely agree with Martin Hannan’s view that the club’s ill-advised trip to Dubai for their winter camp in the middle of a worsening global pandemic demonstrates the alarming extent of mismanagement and lack of coherent leadership that exists at present (Dubai trip is a reputational disaster for Celtic, January 12).
Though the trip may have been technically permitted by the Scottish Government and the governing football authorities, it hardly fell under the category of “essential travel” as mainland Scotland remained in Level 4.
READ MORE: Martin Hannan: The reputation of Celtic has been tarnished by Dubai Covid scandal
A club that had a considerable fixture backlog to fulfil, and that came under fire at the start of the pandemic for their insensitive treatment of non-playing staff, once again demonstrated a complete lack of respect for their supporters and the wider Scottish public.
Their PR own goal was made all the more morally repugnant by travelling again to a country with a questionable record on human rights and returning with a player testing positive for Covid-19 who should not have been on the trip due to a long-term injury.
The hierarchy at Celtic FC consistently appear to be out of touch with the values and ethos of their core support, and their decision-making here is contemptuous of the sacrifices people in this country have made throughout the duration of the pandemic.
READ MORE: Peter Lawwell issues apology to Celtic fans for Dubai trip
Regardless of their current footballing travails, the decision to go ahead with this trip demonstrates a breathtaking arrogance and lack of empathy. It was clearly morally wrong and the club should apologise for its grave mistakes. The board’s refusal to accept responsibility beggars belief and allows us an insight into the paranoid and defensive mindset therein.
It is not, as Mr Hannan suggests, the role of the Scottish Government to micromanage institutions like Celtic FC. The club’s reputation is in tatters and they alone are culpable.
Owen Kelly
Stirling
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel