Professor Jason Leitch has explained why Celtic were not forced to self-isolate following their training trip to Dubai.

Neil Lennon and his Hoops squad flew out to the Middle East on Saturday for a warm-weather training camp on the back of a damaging derby defeat to Rangers which left them 19 points adrift in the Premiership title race.

The Parkhead side returned to Scotland yesterday and were not forced to quarantine ahead of their match with Hibs on Monday.

Scotland's clinical director explained the decision on Off The Ball: "This is another one of the exemptions. There are the rules and the spirit of the rules.

"The rules are that professional sports people can go on winter training camps, that is allowed. 

"If you are Mo Farah and you need to train at altitude and come back to run the London Marathon that is a reason for travel.

"Professional sport, football included, are allowed to go on winter training camps. 

"They are not allowed to just go on a holiday like the rest of us aren't, but that winter camp is therefore allowed. 

"That is a judgement for the clubs and the authorities for what that is. That exemption if they stay within their bubble remember means they don't have to quarantine when they come back.

Professor Leitch went on to warn: "I should tell you the United Arab Emirates yesterday had 5,055 cases. 5,000 cases nearly double the Scottish number of cases.

"There is a lot of Covid in Dubai. Now the club when they are in Dubai have to follow the rules. They have to distance.

"The only exemption is over the white line if you are training or you are playing they have to behave the same as us at all other times.

"They are allowed to be there to be clear."