CELTIC and Rangers won’t pull the plug on their Middle East training camps — despite rising tensions in the region.
The Old Firm pair and Aberdeen are gearing up for winter shutdown trips to Dubai.
Celtic and Rangers will head for Middle East despite rising tensions in regionCredit: Kenny Ramsay – The Sun Glasgow
Derek McInnes and Aberdeen are also going to DubaiCredit: Kenny Ramsay – The Sun Glasgow
But the assassination of Iran’s top general by the US has thrown the area into turmoil.
US and Iranian experts have warned western citizens to flee the desert.
An air strike ordered by President Trump killed Major General Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad — an attack Iran’s foreign minister described as ‘an act of international terrorism’.
The strike was condemned by Iran’s foreign minister as ‘an act of international terrorism’ and now expats and holidaymakers are being told to get out of hotspots such as Dubai.
Iranian professor Seyed Mohammad Marandi from the University of Tehran said: “If I was a western citizen I’d leave the United Arab Emirates immediately.
“Not only will Iranian leaders retaliate, but also Iraq will retaliate.
“The Americans have murdered Iraqi war heroes, this was a senior Iraqi government official.
“The American position in Iraq is no longer sustainable and I think that the whole region is now a threat.”
Many Old Firm players are already in Dubai, with the rest of the Celtic squad set to travel on Saturday and Rangers on Monday.
We are obviously aware of events in the Middle East and we are monitoring the situation. As a club we will heed Foreign Office advice.”
A Rangers spokesperson
Aberdeen are scheduled to leave on Wednesday.
The Foreign Office are advising all UK citizens to monitor social media platforms for the latest travel advice.
A Rangers spokesperson said: “We are obviously aware of events in the Middle East and we are monitoring the situation.
“As a club we will heed Foreign Office advice.”
Celtic chiefs are also monitoring events in the Middle East closely.
Both Rangers and Celtic will train at the world- renowned Nad al Sheba Sports Complex.
Steven Gerrard’s side are also set to face Uzbekistani Super Cup champions Lokomotiv Tashkent in a friendly.
Professor Marandi said: “The whole region’s future is unclear because of the terrorist attack.
“No matter how you frame it, it’s the equivalent of assassinating the British commander of the British armed forces.
“This is essentially a declaration of war against Iran.”
Celtic fans march ahead of match with Rangers in Celtic Park
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
