CELTIC’s request to have Ryan Christie available for today’s Old Firm derby has been rejected by the Scottish Government.
The Hoops star has been self-isolating since last week after being identified as a close contact of Stuart Armstrong.
The Southampton ace tested positive for coronavirus while on Scotland duty, with both Christie and Arsenal star Kieran Tierney being forced to self-isolate for 14-days in accordance with the Government’s Covid guidelines.
Earlier today we exclusively told you how Arsenal are poised to confirm they’ve successfully negotiated for Kieran Tierney to cut short his 14-day isolation period and be available for tomorrow’s game against Man City at the Etihad.
Celtic had hoped to gain similar permission to draft Christie back into their squad ahead of the Old Firm game too.
But the Scottish Government have confirmed this notion has been rejected.
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Our national guidance in Scotland is clear – if you are identified as a close contact of someone who has tested positive for coronavirus (Covid-19), you will be asked to self-isolate immediately for 14 days.”
Celtic have yet to officially respond to the news.
Earlier today though, boss Neil Lennon said the club would seek answers from the relevant authorities if Christie isn’t allowed to play yet Tierney is.
He told the media: “We would be very confused and want answers, that Kieran Tierney is allowed to play and Ryan has been refused to play.
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“It would be very confusing and I think our supporters would want to know the answers as well.”
Meanwhile, Nicola Sturgeon has been urged to cancel this weekend’s Old Firm game if it’s deemed a “threat to public health”.
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Labour’s Shadow Scottish Secretary Ian Murray said the Celtic v Rangers match – the first of the season – should be postponed over fears it’ll lead to people gathering together to watch.
He told BBC’s Good Morning Scotland: “We’ve got businesses in my constituency and right across Scotland closing down, we’ve got people worried about their livelihoods, we’ve got people really worried about the spread of Covid in this second wave and really if there’s a threat to public health it should be postponed.
“And if it was I would fully expect the First Minister and the Scottish Government to come together with football to postpone the games that they feel might be a threat to public health.
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