Football finance expert Kieran Maguire has been discussing the recent actions of Celtic’s Belgian defender Boli Bolingoli.
Following the Hoops’ recent match against Kilmarnock, the 25-year-old full-back admitted that he had played in the match without quarantining after returning from Spain (per BBC).
Police Scotland has also confirmed that the player has been handed a fixed penalty notice for ‘breaching quarantine regulations‘.
In the latest episode of the Price of Football podcast, Maguire discussed the recent actions of Bolingoli and slated him for it.
He said: “We all know that if you go to Spain, you’re subject to a 14-day period of self-isolation.
“[He] didn’t appear to apply that. He said it was an error of judgement. Now, an error of judgement is perhaps going at 35[mph] in a 30[mph] zone and you’re not quite keeping an eye on your dashboard.
“You don’t, as an error of judgement, book a flight, book accommodation, go on the flight, spend a few days and then come back – and then forget to tell your employer, ‘Oh, by the way, I’ve been to Spain.’
“Nicola Sturgeon has said that if there is a repeat of this, then the Scottish government, they have the ability to pass, effectively, a rule which will stop Scottish football from taking place.
“And then we are talking job losses. We’re talking job losses in the back office, we’re talking job losses for players themselves, because Scottish football is not well paid – the clubs are living on the edge as it is.”
Maguire later added on Bolingoli: “What I think he’s done is spectacularly dumb and it’s caused huge issues for Celtic.”
TIF Thoughts…
As can be seen in what Maguire had to say, if Scottish football is stopped from taking place by the Scottish government, he believes that will lead to job losses.
Should Celtic now be looking to sell Boli Bolingoli?
Yes, he needs to go
No, we should move on
Hopefully, for those people who are working in Scottish football, no further players breach quarantine regulations so that matches can continue.