'Not a stag do' - Lennon rejects criticism of Celtic's training trip to Dubai

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Neil Lennon - furious.

Q Radio Sport

Neil Lennon has confirmed another Celtic player has tested positive for Covid-19 as he angrily hit back at criticism of the club's controversial trip to Dubai.

The Celtic boss missed the 1-1 draw against Hibernian and the goalless draw with Livingston at Parkhead as he was self-isolating following the mid-season training camp.

Lennon, assistant John Kennedy and 13 players had to isolate after Christopher Jullien tested positive for coronavirus and chief executive Peter Lawwell admitted the trip was "a mistake" and apologised to Hoops fans.

Celtic are now 21 points behind leaders Rangers, but they do have three games in hand, with 14 of the self-isolating 15 set to return for Wednesday's trip to Livingston.

"Another player has been deemed positive, it is someone who is self-isolating," Lennon said. "Everyone is negative bar two players [the injured Christopher Jullien and the new unnamed case].

"I think that's remarkable. It totally blows out the water the way the trip has been portrayed in certain quarters of the media, by certain pundits and by certain government officials as well.

"We didn't abuse any 'privilege', we did the right things, we were totally professional. 

"We had a little drink in the afternoon on the day off, completely allowed, no law-breaking.

"But we come back to this barrage of absolute hypocrisy."

Lennon revealed it was his decision to travel to Dubai and defended the purpose of the training camp, saying: "It was not a stag do, it wasn't an '18-30' even though it has been portrayed like that.

"The lads had one day off, they got into Dubai at seven in the morning and they are entitled to a bit of down time.

"It's not as if they were doing a conga in the dressing room, dancing to Baccara or travelling up and down by train London to Glasgow with Covid. So I think we've been harshly treated."

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