Sturgeon's comments come after Celtic's Boli Bolingoli broke quarantine rules, days after Aberdeen players tested positive for coronavirus following bar visit
Tuesday 11 August 2020 14:11, UK
Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has warned fans they should "not expect to see Aberdeen or Celtic play over the course of the coming week" after a series of coronavirus rule breaches.
Sturgeon accused players of being "incapable of living up to their responsibilities" after Celtic's Boli Bolingoli broke coronavirus quarantine rules before playing in their 1-1 draw with Kilmarnock on Sunday.
Bolingoli travelled to Spain ahead of the match and did not quarantine on his return - something the club were unaware of until after the game.
It came just days after Aberdeen's trip to St Johnstone was called off due to two of their players testing positive for coronavirus.
Eight Dons players later issued public apologies for breaking guidelines by visiting a bar following their opening-day defeat to Rangers on August 1.
In a press conference on Tuesday, First Minister Sturgeon said: "I don't want the season to be in jeopardy. I don't want people who are not responsible for this to pay the price but we have to be very clear that this situation is not acceptable.
"We'll set out the conclusion of the talks later today but as a minimum, you should not expect to see Aberdeen or Celtic play over the course of the coming week.
"By putting this is as clearly as I can in language that the football world will understand, consider today the yellow card. The next time it will be the red card because you will leave us with absolutely no choice."
She added: "Every day I stand here and ask members of the public to make huge sacrifices in how they live their lives.
"And the vast majority of members of the public are doing that and it's not easy. We can't have privileged football players just deciding they are not going to bother. This can't go on."
Celtic are due to play St Mirren on Wednesday, with Aberdeen scheduled to host Hamilton on the same evening. Both matches are now in doubt following Sturgeon's comments - as is Saturday's meeting between Celtic and Aberdeen.
National Clinical Director of the Scottish government, Jason Leitch, says he was disappointed with the recent rule breaches after holding talks with Premiership clubs.
He said: "I spent 45 minutes with the captains and managers of our clubs. That meeting went very well. I was given a good hearing. I told them of the dangers of the virus.
"They put at risk two things. They put at risk principally the health of the population. Irrespective of if you're a footballer, a factory worker, a schoolteacher or whoever you are. If you break the guidance you put at risk your own health and the health of your loved ones.
"That's the most important thing for footballers to understand. But they have an added responsibility because they put at risk the return of elite sport. Not just their own sport, but golf, horse racing, rugby, swimming, everything else.
"We've designed a bubble system. Because they are privileged they are getting to do extra things that the rest of the population aren't. And they have put that at risk. So I hope you can hear in my voice how disappointed I was yesterday to hear of another.
"It's not just this one player, it's a series of breaches now that we have to get the SPFL and the SFA and the clubs to address. It's not my job to address them. I think our guidance and our rules are crystal clear."
