Frank Lampard and wife Christine rush back from their family holiday in France to avoid quarantine

EXCLUSIVE: Frank Lampard and wife Christine rush back from their family holiday in the south of France to avoid a two-week quarantine after the UK introduces new travel restrictions starting on Saturday

  • Frank Lampard and wife Christine have rushed back from their holiday in France
  • New rules on Saturday mean people returning from France have to quarantine
  • Lampard and his wife were away with family in the coastal city of Antibes
  • He has rushed back to ensure he can be at the start of Chelsea’s pre-season 

Frank Lampard has avoided having to go into a two-week quarantine and miss the start of Chelsea’s pre-season by returning home from his holiday in France.

It comes as Premier League players, like many members of the public, rush to beat the UK’s new travel restrictions which come into effect on Saturday at 4am.

Lampard was away with family in the coastal city of Antibes when news broke that France had been removed from the ‘safe’ list. Holland has also been removed.

Frank Lampard has returned home from his holiday in France to avoid a two-week quarantine

Lampard and wife Christine (L) were on a trip at the famous Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in France

Lampard and wife Christine (L) were on a trip at the famous Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in France

The Lampard’s are not the only ones to have their holidays disrupted. The plans of around 500,000 Britons have been ruined by the government’s 11th hour move as they try to avoid having to self-isolate for 14 days once they return to the UK. 

Meanwhile, France is likely to impose Coronavirus quarantine measures for people arriving from Britain ‘within days,’ a government source in Paris indicated on Friday night. 

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps sparked the chaos on Thursday night when he announced the dramatic step to add France to the quarantine list, but suggested it would only apply to people who ‘come back from Sunday’.

The Department for Transport then clarified the restrictions would come into force on Saturday instead amid accusations that Nicola Sturgeon demanded quarantine was imposed on France on Saturday to ‘flex her muscles’.

Greece could soon be added to the quarantine list after a spike in its infection rate, with a record 235 cases recorded on August 12. Daily new cases in the country were in the 30s towards the end of July.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announced France would go on the quarantine list on Thursday

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announced France would go on the quarantine list on Thursday

It means Lampard will avoid quarantine and will be able to take charge of Chelsea's pre-season

It means Lampard will avoid quarantine and will be able to take charge of Chelsea’s pre-season

But Sportsmail has learned there are clubs who have given players who are visiting family abroad permission to stay, meaning they will miss the start of pre-season. 

Those not able to leave France or Holland in time will be given individual training programmes to follow until they are able to rejoin their respective groups.

Players of multiple Premier League clubs, including Brighton, Sheffield United and West Ham, are scheduled for their first day of pre-season training on Monday.

Some sides encouraged their squads to take their holidays early, to allow time for a quarantine period if necessary.

Chelsea’s pre-season will start later than others due to their involvement in the FA Cup final, which they lost to Arsenal, and Champions League against Bayern Munich.

Fulham are also set to start preparations for next season later after taking part in the play-off final, which they won 2-1 against Brentford at Wembley Stadium.

The new season is due to start on September 12.



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