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Scottish Premiership champions Celtic have reportedly placed their entire Under-18s squad on the government's furlough scheme.
According to the Daily Mail, Under-18s boss Darren O'Dea informed the club's academy stars of the news on Wednesday morning via Zoom.
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The government will therefore now pay 80 per cent of the side's salary, while Celtic will continue to compensate the remaining 20 per cent.
The news comes after chief executive Peter Lawwell admitted the Hoops' controversial decision to go to Dubai was 'a mistake'.
The Parkhead club had confirmed Christopher Jullien tested positive for coronavirus, but all others and staff members were negative after being checked following their return to Scotland from a training camp last Friday.
However, 13 other players, manager Neil Lennon and assistant John Kennedy were deemed to be close contacts and had to join the French defender in self-isolation.
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First Minister Nicola Sturgeon questioned whether the trip was essential and revealed doubts 'based on some pictures I've seen whether adherence to bubble rules was strict enough'.
Celtic fans themselves were leading the widespread criticism and amid a furore, it was a makeshift Hoops side which drew 1-1 at home with Hibernian on Monday night.
Speaking in an in-house interview on the club's official website Lawwell addressed the issue and said: "It has been an extremely difficult few days and on reflection, looking back and with hindsight and looking at the outcome of the trip, clearly it was a mistake and for that I profoundly apologise to our supporters.
"We left here and the rationale for the camp was very much with the best intentions.
"Things haven't gone the way we wanted to and the outcome is clearly very regrettable."