It has not been the best of weeks for Dundee United, who are the latest Premiership club to have to deal with a Covid-19 outbreak.
It all started when three non-playing members of staff tested positive for the virus. Then, manager Micky Mellon and his first-team staff were told to self-isolate. Meaning that they will miss the game against Livingston.
Nine players out of next two games
That was then followed by the news that nine players in the first-team squad would need to self-isolate. As a result, those players will miss the games against Livingston and Rangers.
Then, to cap off a bad week, the Courier reported that the club’s team photo showed evidence of what could be considered breaches of the Covid-19 rules.
The story about the team photo has not gone down well with the Scottish Government. Especially with the National Clinical Director Jason Leitch.
He expects the SPFL to take action against the Tannadice club.
“Deeply disappointing”
“This is deeply disappointing and irresponsible” he said.
“We were very surprised to see this photograph, which shows a clear breach of the Covid-19 guidelines agreed between the SPFL and the Scottish Government” Leitch went on.
“We would expect this to be taken extremely seriously by the football authorities. This action puts individuals and their families at risk of infection and serious illness.
“We now know that some of the individuals in this photograph have subsequently tested positive for Covid-19. Professional football has considerable privileges – these depend on following the guidance” Leitch concluded.