Two faces of Sturgeon for Celtic/Aberdeen and Newco

Ask anyone at Celtic Park or Pittodrie what the consequences are when players at Scottish clubs are and they will tell you: games cancelled for two weeks by the Scottish Government, a “yellow card” issued by the First Minister herself.

At the time, Ms Sturgeon said, “We can’t have privileged football players just deciding that they are not going to bother.  This can’t go on.”

There was, however, no grandstanding from Sturgeon yesterday when two Newco players were caught by police breaking Covid rules.  Instead, the Scottish Government slipped out a statement COMMENDING Newco:

“Players maintain the sporting bubble by not compromising any of these things when away from the heavy regulated training or match environment, and we expect clubs and their staff and players to fulfil their responsibilities and apply all of these measures rigorously.

“We commend Rangers for taking such swift and decisive action in this instance, to protect the rest of their squad and wider public.”

One club is commended for doing that two others were punished for.  I know how things work in Scotland.  The SNP is far from popular among supporters at Ibrox, which remains an important political constituency, but turning a blind eye when the First Minister grabbed the opportunity to jump on Celtic is unworthy of the office.