Scottish clubs eying January jaunts abroad have been warned to cool their jets – as entire plane-loads could end up in quarantine if there’s a single covid case on board.
Record Sport understands government chiefs are set to beef up restrictions which could scupper hopes of clubs shooting off for some winter sun during the shutdown.
Concerns over skyrocketing numbers of the new Covid variant has got Holyrood on red alert – and it’s forced a change of plan on foreign travel.
Clubs will be warned if there is a single case brought back from abroad then ALL passengers on the plane will be facing 10 days in isolation – regardless of tests or vaccine status.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has already got clubs worried after suggestions more stadium restrictions could be on the cards.
And the new guidelines on the way could also apply to team buses – which could even force players to make their own way to games.
But the foreign travel problem is an immediate issue for some and could force sides plotting overseas camps into a change of plans.
Several clubs are understood to be exploring the option of getting out of Scotland during the break – but none have yet to publicly nail down their itineraries.
Celtic are among those with an option to head to the sun – but the Hoops will be desperate to avoid a repeat of their disastrous trip to Dubai last January.
The Parkhead club suffered a nightmare 12 months ago when centre-back Christopher Jullien tested positive for the virus and it resulted in 13 players and three staff being quarantined.
Celts were given the green light to head to the Middle East but the restrictions were cranked up in the days leading up to the trip, and the country was back in lockdown by the time they returned.
The Parkhead club copped flak and former chief executive Peter Lawwell eventually made a public apology.
The team was forced to play two games with shadow squads, while then boss Neil Lennon was one of the coaches housebound.
The trip damaged any hopes of Celts staging a fight back in the title race and they will be wary of problems this time around, despite manager Ange Postecoglou admitting last month he was keen to get his group away for a mid-season break.
Several top-flight clubs have taken advantage of the winter shutdown to head to sunnier climes, with Rangers and Aberdeen regulars in Dubai, and Hibs and Motherwell also jetting out in previous years.
But the fast moving situation with the new Omicron strain is likely to leave sides grounded this time around.
