January 15 – Another trip to the Gulf by British-based players, another Covid controversy. Following an apology by Scottish champions Celtic for having undertaken a warm-weather trip to Dubai that led to a spate of positive cases, the manager of the Arsenal Women’s team, Joe Montemurro , says the club will not tolerate coronavirus protocol breaches after confirming three players went to the United Arab Emirates during the Women’s Super League winter break.
The Three Arsenal players were joined by those from Manchester United and Manchester City for what was described as a “business trip”.
It led to a spate of WSL postponements last weekend following several positive coronavirus tests.
“The players have apologised, we have dealt with it internally and for me the really important thing is it doesn’t happen again,” Montemurro said.
“It’s all about making sure the players understand they are role models, they are in the public eye and we won’t be able to tolerate these sorts of decisions, not just from a sporting perspective but from a global morality perspective.”
The players’ actions had potentially disastrous consequences for vulnerable teammates, one of whom is reported to be recovering from breast cancer.
“In the moment they probably didn’t think of that,” Montemurro said. “But I can guarantee going forward from now they have understood the effect of their actions, they have understood the repercussions that could have happened.”
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