Health Secretary Michael Matheson and Dame Jackie Baillie, the MSP for Dumbarton.
By Bill Heaney
Football, communications and politics were all in the headlines in this morning news bulletins.
Commenting on the ongoing Michael Matheson situation, Scottish Labour Deputy Leader Jackie Baillie said: “Michael Matheson’s referral to the SPCB appears to have been gesture politics at its worst. This is simply a pathetic attempt by the SNP to shift the focus on to the parliament.
“The evidence of a cover-up by Michael Matheson is plain for all to see, but somehow he is still attempting to deny any wrongdoing when he has clearly lied to the public.
“We are far from the bottom of this sorry saga. We need a full probe from the Standards Committee or the Standards Commissioner so that the public have the chance to get the answers they deserve.”
Meanwhile, also on the communications front, Celtic have been fined £15,200 after fans displayed “provocative messages of an offensive nature” during the Champions League match against Atletico Madrid last month.
The sanction comes from European football’s governing body, Uefa, with Celtic having warned supporters before the match not to display Palestinian flags during the game.
The Scottish champions were also fined £10,000 for fans blocking passageways and using pyrotechnics.
The issues are likely to be raised at the Scottish Premiership club’s annual meeting on Wednesday.
Celtic this month banned the Green Brigade section of fans from attending games, citing a number of “unacceptable behaviours”, including the use of pyrotechnics, rushing turnstiles, illegally gaining access and forcing open fire exits at Motherwell’s Fir Park.
Stressing that the suspension was “not imposed as a result of the display of Palestinian flags”, Celtic said they would offer season ticket refunds to some of the fans affected.
Atletico were fined £2,600 for their fans lighting fireworks at the match in Glasgow.