Rangers players suspended for breaching Covid rules

Rangers players Jordan Jones and George Edmundson have been suspended by the club for breaching coronavirus regulations.

The Ibrox club said the players attended a private gathering with others outside of their household.

Both Jones and Edmundson have been suspended pending an internal investigation.

The players will also self-isolate for 14 days on the instruction of club doctor Mark Waller.

Rangers managing director Stewart Robertson said: “The chairman Douglas Park, Ross Wilson, Steven Gerrard and I discussed this matter as soon as it was brought to our attention.

“We are completely aligned in our action and the standards that are being set at Rangers.

“We will not tolerate behaviour that does not follow those standards and it is totally unacceptable for any of our players to be involved in anything that puts at risk the excellent protocols that have been put in place at Rangers.”

The players are thought to have attended a house party in Glasgow’s West End that lasted until the early hours of Monday morning.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 1.25am on Monday, 2 November, we received a report of a house party in Devonshire Terrace in Glasgow.

“Officers attended and ten people were issued with Fixed Penalty Notices. Advice was given and the party was dispersed.”

The Scottish Government commended Rangers for “taking such swift and decisive action in this instance, to protect the rest of their squad and the wider public”.

A spokesperson said: “The return to training and match protocols mandate strict adherence to all government guidance in place, including on gatherings and physical distancing.

“Players maintain the sporting bubble by not compromising any of these things when away from the heavily regulated training or match environment, and we expect clubs and their staff and players to fulfil their responsibilities and apply all of these measures rigorously.”

Earlier this season, Aberdeen fined eight players who broke Covid safety rules by visiting a restaurant and pub in the city.

Jonny Hayes, Mikey Devlin, Scott McKenna, Matty Kennedy, Sam Cosgrove, Dylan McGeouch, Craig Bryson and Bruce Anderson all had to self-isolate after going out following the team’s defeat to Rangers on the opening day of the Premiership, with two players testing positive for coronavirus.

Their actions drew condemnation from the Scottish Government and Aberdeen promised an investigation.

Celtic also had to apologise after defender Boli Bolingoli failed to observe quarantine restrictions by travelling to Spain.

Bolingoli didn’t tell the club about his trip and then featured as a substitute in Celtic’s 1-1 draw with Kilmarnock in August.

The 25-year-old was issued a fixed penalty notice for failing to self isolate. Bolingoli has since signed for Turkish champions Istanbul Basaksehir on a season-long loan deal.

Coronavirus outbreaks have also led to several matches in this season’s Scottish Premiership being cancelled.

The SPFL has opened disciplinary proceedings against St Mirren over the postponement of two Premiership games.

The Paisley club informed the league that they would unable to put together a squad for matches against Motherwell and Hamilton after an outbreak of coronavirus at the club.

Kilmarnock have also been charged with breaching coronavirus protocols after their entire first-team squad were ordered to self-isolate following six positive cases ahead of Motherwell’s scheduled visit to Rugby Park last month.

A sub-committee of the SPFL board, chaired by an independent legally-qualified professional, will hear cases against both St.Mirren and Kilmarnock on November 10-11.

The coronavirus pandemic forced the indefinite suspension of football across Scotland in March.

The SPFL’s 42 member clubs then voted to bring the season to a close – a move that brought anger and acrimony after Dundee’s hugely controversial deciding vote relegated Partick Thistle and Stranraer.

The vote also granted the SPFL permission to end the Scottish Premiership season early – meaning Celtic were confirmed champions and Hearts were relegated.