Aberdeen FC’s coronavirus own goal: Eight players go into isolation and two test postive after team trip to crowded bar at centre of outbreak in violation of team rules banning outings
- Aberdeen says it will fully investigate the circumstances of a team evening out
- Scottish government says it is ‘disappointed,’ saying it has put football ‘at risk’
- Supporters hit out, saying they’ve ‘badly let the whole of Scottish football down’
- Players headed to a bar following the 1-0 defeat by Rangers on Saturday night
- Two players have tested positive for coronavirus as a result of the outing
Eight Aberdeen football players have gone into isolation as two tested positive for Covid-19 after flouting team rules by heading out to a bar at the centre of the city’s outbreak.
Training was cancelled yesterday after one player tested positive for Covid-19 and it was later established a second player had also caught it – though both are asymptomatic.
Eight Aberdeen players have been placed in self isolation after dining at the city’s Soul bar on Saturday.
The Scottish government is said to be ‘disappointed,’ by the actions of the players.
Nicola Sturgeon plunged the city into lockdown on Wednesday after coronavirus cases doubled in 24 hours.
Scotland’s First Minister said more than 20 pubs and restaurants had been linked to a cluster which had formed in the granite city, warning pub crawls could be banned.
The players headed out to Soul bar in Aberdeen on Saturday following a 1-0 loss to Rangers, revellers were spotted at the packed bar earlier this month
Aberdeen has been placed under lockdown after more than 20 pubs and restaurants were linked to a spike in Covid-19 cases in the Granite City
A spokesman from Holyrood told the Evening Express: ‘The Scottish Government is disappointed by the actions of these individuals who have put at risk the return of professional football in Scotland.
‘This was a clear breach of the rules that were put in place by the SFA, the SPFL and the Scottish Government.
‘As this outbreaks highlights, it’s imperative that these strict protocols are diligently followed in order to ensure the continued safe resumption of the sport.’
Players have been permitted to stay in close contact with each other, on the condition they remain in their bubble.
What are the new lockdown rules imposed in Aberdeen?
- Bars, restaurants, cafes and pubs closed at 5pm on Wednesday.
- Hotel restaurants can remain open to provide food for existing guests, and takeaway services can continue
- People are asked not to meet other households indoors or travel more than five miles for leisure or recreational purposes
- People can continue to travel for work, or education purposes
- Visiting in hospitals and care homes will return to essential visits only
Fans have voiced their own anger after quarantine measures mean eight Aberdeen players will miss the next SPL match against St Johnstone, Hamilton Academical and Celtic.
The Burst Baw Scottish Football Podcast tweeted: ‘They’ve badly let the whole of Scottish football down. The speed at which we can get fans back to games will depend on how Scottish football can deal with this first step: playing matches safely.’
Ally Cameron wrote: ‘Pretty ashamed to be an Aberdeen fan tonight. Some players have really let the fans down, and the club.’
Addressing the public at a press conference this week, Ms Sturgeon warned pub crawls could be linked to the outbreak in the Granite City.
The First Minister said: ‘It could be that what we see here is a pattern which involves people going from one pub to another in the same night.
‘Now it may be that we have to look at some of those lessons to think about whether we need to tighten up some of the restrictions about how hospitality is operating across the wider country.
‘I don’t want to rush to conclusions on that but equally I want to make sure we are fairly rapidly doing some assessment of that nature.
‘I may have more to say on that later in the week.’
Aberdeen and Scottish football fans vented their frustration on Twitter after hearing that eight players were self-isolating
Eight Aberdeen players, who have not been named, will miss the club’s next three games after making a trip to the city’s Soul bar on Saturday
Manager Derek McInnes has been left furious after Aberdeen made a ‘lapse of judgment’
Scheduled to train at Cormack Park on Sunday morning, players provided assurances to manager Derek McInnes that no alcohol was involved after heading out on Saturday night.
After adopting extensive measures to create a bio secure training hub, however, the club’s management are deeply unhappy with what one source branded ‘a real lapse of judgement’.
Despite being symptomatic, the two players testing positive will now be quarantined for ten days.
A total of 79 cases have now been diagnosed in the city, with bars and restaurants shut down for a week at 5pm on Thursday.
Last night chairman Dave Cormack described the lapse in club protocol as a ‘bitter blow’ and vowed to ‘educate and remind everyone of what is, and what is not, acceptable in the current climate.’
‘After Saturday’s game, with all eyes on Pittodrie, we were once again commended on the stringent processes and measures we had in place. Given the efforts of everyone at the club and our investment in protecting our most valuable assets, this is a bitter blow.
‘With two first team players testing positive for COVID-19, plus six others having to isolate for 14 days, it is also a harsh reminder of the severity and speed of spread of this virus.
‘The club will be carrying out a full investigation but, as an immediate first step, we have reinforced the club’s COVID-19 protocols and the governing bodies’ guidance with every player and member of staff and will continue to regularly educate and remind everyone of what is, and what is not, acceptable in the current climate.
‘We now have to focus on preparing for Saturday’s game under extremely difficult circumstances.’
Several members of the Aberdeen squad will now be missing for upcoming fixtures
Initially, Aberdeen’s clash with St Johnstone in Perth was expected to be given the all clear due to Dons players being placed in a ‘bubble’ at the club’s training centre. The breach of return to training protocols by eight players changed that state of affairs quickly.
Following crunch talks between the Scottish Government and Scottish football’s Joint Response Group yesterday a JRG statement confirmed that one player has been confirmed as a positive by a follow-up National Health Service test, while the second player is awaiting the result of a follow-up NHS test.
The statement added: ‘In light of the First Minister’s increased restrictions imposed on the city of Aberdeen since a significant outbreak of COVID-19 this week, and following further investigation by NHS Grampian’s Health Protection Team, the Scottish Government has instructed that both players will require to self-isolate, along with a further six players found to have been in close proximity to the initial positive player.
‘The initial positive player will require to self-isolate for 10 days from yesterday, with the remaining seven players to self-isolate for 14 days from yesterday.
‘This instruction for self-isolation has been unanimously endorsed by the Joint Response Group. In light of the action taken, and after consultation with Scottish Government, Aberdeen’s Scottish Premiership match against St Johnstone on Saturday will go ahead as scheduled.’
Public health officials now fear a breach of return to training protocols has taken place
The Aberdeen crisis follows one member of St Mirren’s backroom staff recently being tested positive and Rangers, Hibs and Motherwell being asked to clarify aspects of their covid testing procedures. SFA Chief Executive Ian Maxwell wrote to clubs reminding them of their responsibilities before the opening weekend of the season.
Rod Petrie, Joint Response Group Chair said last night: ‘As we have said from the outset, public health is the absolute priority of the Joint Response Group. As soon as we were informed of the positive tests, the information was immediately referred to the Scottish Government via our Chief Medical Consultant.
‘Given the well-documented outbreak in Aberdeen it was imperative that we took the swiftest action to enable the local Health Protection Team to respond immediately.
‘The Scottish Government’s advice to the JRG was clear and unequivocal, as was our support of that advice. Given the circumstances, we issue the strongest possible message to all clubs to ensure compliance with the twice-weekly testing procedure and Scottish football’s Return to Playing Protocol. It is imperative that everyone adheres to Scottish Government public health advice.’
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