Celtic have reacted this evening to calls from many supporters online to pull ALL Celtic stars from their international teams in order to stop more players from contracting the virus or having to isolate because an international teammate has tested positive.
In the past 24 hours we’ve seen Odsonne Edouard test positive and now Ryan Christie has to isolate for 14 days being in close proximity to Stuart Armstrong who has tested positive.
Celtic are set to test the rules on track and trace when it comes to footballers. Given the amount of tests they have to take it would highly likely be flagged if Ryan does have the virus over the next days. If he keeps returning negative, then Celtic are asking for common sense and guidance.
Over and above that, they have addressed fan concerns and told supporters they have no powers to pull their players as it falls under FIFA jurisdiction.
. #CelticFC response to calls for our players to be withdrawn from international duty:
“The Club will always do everything possible to protect the health and wellbeing of our players, but the release of players for international matches is governed by the FIFA regulations.”
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) October 7, 2020
Straight forward . If a person is in contact with an infectious individual , he/she needs to wait fourteen days before he/she knows that they are clear. The virus can live up to fourteen days undetected in a human . During that time the said person ,if positive ,could be transmitting the virus to everyone he/she is in contact with. Therefore, in Ryan Christie’s case he could unwittingly infect the whole squad, never mind his family and friends .Celtic shouldn’t even consider letting him near the club and I also fear for other Celtic players in the Scotland squad .In Eddy’s case, he will have to have a clear test result after symptoms subside. I cannot believe that a club of Celtic’s stature doesn’t know this and needs to question it after all these months.
Only know is it beginning to dawn on some football fans, Bill Shankleys immortal quote.
‘.’Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I don’t like that attitude. I can assure them it is much more serious than that’
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Frankley Mr Shankley was correct. So don’t be an emu.