CELTIC have been hit by a £30,000 fine by the SPFL for Boli Bolingoli’s inexplicable actions on a secret trip to high-risk Spain.
The nine-a-row champions were penalised for the dangerous antics of the Belgian left-back who ignored the Scottish government’s quarantine guidelines when he returned.
Aberdeen, too, have been hit by an identical punishment after eight of their players breached strict Covid-19 rules. In early August, eight Dons stars visited a city centre bar before all being required to isolate after two of the number tested positive.
Days later, Belgian defender Bolingoli travelled to Spain and failed to self-isolate upon his return before training with his team-mates at Lennoxtown and playing in the final minutes of the 1-1 draw with Kilmarnock at Rugby Park on August 9.
Both clubs copped a £30,000 fine each – although only £8,000 is required to be paid immediately.
The remainder is suspended and will come into effect upon any future rule-breaches from the sides.
An SPFL spokesman, quoted in the Daily Record, said: “ Aberdeen FC and Celtic FC demonstrated that they had gone to enormous lengths to ensure that their players adhered to all relevant requirements and protocols relating to Covid-19.
“However, the requirement of individual players to adhere to their clubs’ carefully-designed protocols is a matter of personal and professional responsibility on the part of those players.
“That the players involved ignored the strict and comprehensive requirements set down by Scottish football, by their clubs and by the Scottish Government, is obviously a serious issue, but given the lengths to which the clubs had gone in each case to seek to ensure compliance by its players, the SPFL Board sub-committee suspended the majority of the fines imposed.
“The fact that adherence to social distancing and other regulations has been assiduous in the intervening period is obviously something we welcome, and we congratulate players, staff and officials for taking a leading role on these important issues.”
