Scottish footballer's "risked the health of the population" by ignoring coronavirus rules, according to Scotland's National Clinical Director.

Jason Leitch was speaking at the Scottish Government's daily coronavirus briefing after it emerged Celtic and Aberdeen players had broken quarantine rules.

READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon says Celtic and Aberdeen should not expect to play this week

Boli Bolongoli travelled to Spain secretly before Celtic's match with Kilmarnock on Sunday and did not quarantine upon his return, whilst Leigh Griffiths also broke lockdown rules at the weekend when he hosted a party.

The incidents followed the news last week that eight Aberdeen players had gone on a night out and two had contracted coronavirus.

The coronavirus Joint Response Group have since announced that Celtic and Aberdeen's next two matches have been postponed. They were due to play against one another on Saturday August 15. 

READ MORE: Celtic and Aberdeen matches postponed after Covid-19 protocol breaches​

Reacting to the news on lockdown breaches, Leitch said:

“I spent, with Mr Fitzpatrick the sports minister, a lot of time yesterday getting all our ducks in a row to allow the Aberdeen game to go ahead and persuade the First Minister that was the right thing to do.

"I spent 45 minutes with the captains and managers of our clubs. I'm a fan as well as the National Clinical Director and that meeting went very well, I was given a good hearing.

"I didn't miss them, I think you can be assured, and I told them of their responsibility, but actually more importantly than that I told them of the dangers of the virus.

"They put at risk two things. They put at risk principally, the health of the population. Irrespective of if you're a footballer, a factory worker, a school teacher, or whoever you are - if you break the guidance you put at risk your own health and the health of your loved ones. That's the most important thing for the footballers to understand.”