'Not the role of the SPFL' - Neil Doncaster defends position in Celtic Dubai controversy

The league body came under fire for their handling of the Parkhead club’s decision to go to Dubai for a mid-season training camp.

Celtic were able to do so after having a request to move their match with Hibs back 48 hours granted.

The situation reached a farcical level with the injured Christopher Jullien testing positive and a raft of first-team stars currently self-isolating.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon had her say on the trip and asked the footballing authorities to look into it.

Doncaster, however, defended the SPFL place in the matter.

He told the Daily Mail: “It's not the role of the league to bless - or otherwise - what clubs do.

“We are there to effectively apply the rule book agreed by the member clubs. That rule book does not give us any basis for getting involved in a decision to go to a training camp or not - that is clearly a decision for the clubs themselves.

“The role of the league is to schedule games. We do not have a role in blessing or otherwise any training camps around the world.

“Celtic have been very candid this week in terms of their regret at going on the trip.

“We welcomed that stance being taken, but we have to be very careful as a league not to over-reach what we are there to do.

“We are there to apply the rules - not cast value judgements on things clubs are permitted to do by government.”