Live

Highlights on Off The Ball

07:00 AM-01:00 PM

Highlights on Off The Ball
Advertisement
Soccer

Jonny Hayes and Boli Bolingoli charged by SPFL over COVID-19 breaches

Republic of Ireland winger Jonny Hayes is among nine players to be charged by the SPFL for breac...



Jonny Hayes and Boli Bolingoli...
Soccer

Jonny Hayes and Boli Bolingoli charged by SPFL over COVID-19 breaches

Republic of Ireland winger Jonny Hayes is among nine players to be charged by the SPFL for breaches of coronavirus rules.

Hayes is one of eight Aberdeen players who join Celtic defender Boli Bolingoli in also being charged with bringing the game into disrepute.

Celtic and Aberdeen have also been charged with breaches of the SPFL's COVID-19 regulations.

Hayes - along with seven other Dons teammates - were all ordered to quarantine after visiting a pub after their 1-0 defeat at home to Rangers on the opening day of the new Scottish Premiership season.

The incident forced their August 20 game with St. Johnstone to be postponed, and elicited an angry response from Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

Hayes - along with Sam Cosgrove, Scott McKenna, Craig Bryson, Dylan McGeouch, Michael Devlin, Matty Kennedy and Bruce Anderson - released a statement, holding their hands up to an "error of judgement".

Bolingoli came off the bench in last Sunday's Scottish Premiership draw with Kilmarnock, but didn't inform the club he'd jetted off to Spain days prior.

The 25-year-old has returned two negative COVID-19 tests in the last week despite not following the 14-day quarantine put in place.

Bolingoli has apologised and said: "I have made a huge mistake. I want to apologise to my manager, my team-mates, the supporters, everyone at Celtic and so many others for letting them down so badly.

"I am guilty of a major error of judgement. I know what I did was wrong and I know that I must now deal with the consequences."

Sturgeon accused the players of being "incapable of living up to their responsibilities" following the incidents.

The Scottish Government have postponed Celtic and Aberdeen's next two games as a result of the breaches of regulation.

All will have their cases heard by a Scottish FA Disciplinary Tribunal on Friday August 28.

Download the brand new OffTheBall App in the Play Store & App Store right now! We've got you covered!

Subscribe to OffTheBall's YouTube channel for more videos, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for the latest sporting news and content.


Read more about

Aberdeen Boli Bolingoli Celtic Coronavirus Covid-19 Jonny Hayes Neil Lennon Nicola Sturgeon SPFL Scotland