MX23RW : Sunday, January 12 05:37:27| >> :120:80566:80566:
[monks data]
Kilmarnock logo
Scottish Premiership | Gameweek 2
Aug 9, 2020 at 4.30pm UK
Rugby Park
Celtic logo

Kilmarnock
1 - 1
Celtic

Burke (24' pen.)
Dicker (10'), Power (35')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Christie (11')
Brown (72')

Neil Lennon "livid" with Boli Bolingoli after "betrayal"

Neil Lennon
© Reuters
The Belgian played in Sunday's game at Kilmarnock despite failing to self-isolate following a secret trip to Spain.

Neil Lennon has criticised "rogue" defender Boli Bolingoli after his "baffling" decision to fly abroad caused Celtic's next two matches to be postponed.

The Belgian admitted he was "guilty of an error of judgement" after playing in Sunday's 1-1 draw against Kilmarnock despite having recently returned from Spain without quarantining.

Lennon admitted that it would be "very difficult" for the now quarantined Bolingoli to be welcomed back into the fold at Parkhead.

"I am livid; total betrayal of trust," he said. "He took a flight to Spain on the Monday and flew back on Tuesday – one day in Spain, no logic to that – and decided to keep it to himself.

"We couldn't have done any more as a club to maintain the standards.

"This is a rogue who has gone off tangent and decided to do something very, very selfish.

"He trained all week in this bubble and was part of the squad for Sunday and put everybody at risk, the Kilmarnock players and staff as well.

"We were livid and appalled. We have been bitterly, sorely let down by the selfish actions of one individual. He blatantly disregarded instructions.

"The players are angry, disappointed and frustrated. It's just not good enough. It's just simply not good enough."

Kilmarnock v Celtic – Scottish Premiership – Rugby Park
Boli Bolingoli (right) came off the bench at Kilmarnock on Sunday (Jeff Holmes/PA)

This latest controversy follows the postponement of Aberdeen's visit to St Johnstone after two of their players tested positive for Covid-19 and a further six were instructed to self-isolate following a night out.

Celtic and Aberdeen have both had their next two games called off by the Scottish government, with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon saying football was being shown a "yellow card".

The Premiership champions were due to visit St Mirren while the Dons were scheduled to face Hamilton on Wednesday night, before the pair were slated to meet each other on Saturday.

Celtic's Champions League qualifier at home to KR Reykjavik next Tuesday is not in danger, the PA news agency understands.

Lennon continued: "I couldn't disagree with anything that the First Minister said today in terms of club responsibility. We apologise to all the other clubs in the division and in the football support as a whole."

The former Celtic captain believes he was subject to a double deception by Bolingoli.

He said: "No question. One for going and two for not reporting that he went. He put all that at risk and never told a soul. The players didn't seem to know anything about it. The reaction of the individual is just baffling."

Lennon described the decision to call off the next two Celtic games as "fair" but believes it would be "catastrophic" for the game in Scotland to be brought to a halt again.

Kilmarnock v Celtic – Scottish Premiership – Rugby Park
Neil Lennon feels Bolingoli's actions were a double betrayal (Ian McNichol/PA)

He said: "We have had a major blow to the game already with the lockdown.

"Obviously the other leagues haven't even started yet but to stop altogether, I don't know how the recovery process would be or how long it would be.

"I am relieved. I am glad that football is continuing. Unfortunately for us and Aberdeen, we have to miss out on the next two games."

Celtic remain in talks with West Ham striker Albian Ajeti while discussions with former Scotland forward Steven Fletcher have halted, but a potential deal is not dead.

ID:409927: cacheID:409927:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:8461:
Written by
P A
No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Boli Bolingoli-Mbombo pictured for Celtic in October 2019
Read Next:
Celtic, Aberdeen both see next two matches postponed after coronavirus breach
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
1am
Steelers
@
Ravens
6pm
Broncos
@
Bills
9.30pm
Packers
@
Eagles
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Celtic2219216185359
2RangersRangers21125438172141
3Dundee UnitedDundee Utd239763124734
4Aberdeen2110473230234
5Motherwell2394102837-931
6Hibernian237883436-229
7St Mirren2383112738-1127
8Dundee2275103438-426
9Kilmarnock2367102537-1225
10Ross County2367102342-1925
11Hearts2265112531-623
12St Johnstone2243152444-2015


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!