Footballers can get away with breaking covid rules because none of the game’s authorities are prepared to sanction them or their clubs – and their behaviour could lead to matches being suspended, former FA chairman, David Bernstein, has warned.
Sportsmail understands that the Premier League, English Football League and the Football Association do not see it as their job to intervene. In fact, in the case of the EFL and FA, they each think the other should take the lead.
The authorities’ lack of action has been highlighted by Bernstein, who told Sportsmail that ‘with some reluctance I think it would be better to suspend football at the moment’.
Three Spurs stars and a West Ham player (identified above) broke rules to party despite Covid-19 restrictions in place over the Christmas period
Bernstein’s comments come after players at Crystal Palace, Tottenham Hotspur, Fulham, Manchester City and West Ham attended parties over the Christmas and New Year period.
Clubs have been left to investigate and sanction their own players, while none of the football bodies want to comment.
Sportsmail understands, the FA wants the leagues to take responsibility under the Covid protocols they have developed.
However, the EFL thinks that job rests with the FA, which usually adjudicates on players’ actions on and off the pitch, including matters where the game has been brought into disrepute.
The Man City defender invited two non-household guests and a chef to his £5million mansion
The Premier League is believed to be happy for clubs to take their own action, since their protocols broadly relate to training and matchdays.
Meanwhile fans have spoken out vehemently about what they see as a lack of action by the clubs at a time Covid infection rates are rising sharply across the country, death rates are increasing and three-quarters of England is subject to the tightest possible restrictions.
Some, including Watford striker Troy Deeney, claim the clubs will not ban players for breaching Covid rules because they want to win matches. And a public health expert has told the football authorities ‘to grow some gonads’.
Bernstein, who is campaigning for an independent regulator of the national game, says there now needs to be decisive action by the governing bodies.
‘It appears to me there is a great deal of confusion among various bodies in football as to who is responsible for what,’ said Bernstein, who was the FA chairman from January 2011 until his 70th birthday in May 2013.
Crystal Palace captain Luka Miliovojevic (left) was seen breaking Covid rules at a New Year’s Eve party with Fulham’s Aleksandar Mitrovic (right)
‘There is a real danger in the examples being set by players. A confusing message is being sent to the public about matches being played at all at such a dangerous time, when it is possible that Covid deaths could exceed 1,000 per day.
‘Part of the reason for the spread of the virus to such dangerous levels is non compliance by some of the public. In these circumstances there is a strong argument for football being suspended in order to reinforce a very difficult message.
‘We need a strong level of compliance to combat it. With some reluctance, I think it would be better to suspend football at the moment.’
Former FA chairman David Bernstein says players are setting a bad example
Serbian stars flouted rules, too
What they did: The two Serbs, who play for Fulham and Crystal Palace respectively, got together on New Year’s Eve. Mitrovic’s partner revealed via Instagram that at least nine adults were in attendance.
The consequence: Milivojevic, who tested positive for coronavirus in November, kept the captaincy and his place against Sheffield United despite strong words from Roy Hodgson. Palace say disciplinary action will be kept internal. Fulham have also criticised Mitrovic and promised internal action.
Covid history: Fulham have been forced to postpone matches against Tottenham and Burnley because of an outbreak while manager Scott Parker had to selfisolate because a member of his family was showing symptoms but has since tested negative.
Shove match: Serbian chums Milivojevic and Mitrovic
Professor John Ashton, the former North West Regional Director of Public Health told the Telegraph. ‘Football has such responsibility to show leadership and to set an example that it’s a disgrace.
‘These people are not leaders that are running the national game.
‘They’re cowards, actually, and they’re more interested in the money than anything else.’
He added: ‘It’s time for them to grow some gonads.’
The footballers’ actions have emerged as the number of Covid infections in the UK has rocketed and three-quarters of England is subject to the harshest tier four restrictions, where only essential shops such as supermarkets are allowed to open and people are meant to stay at home.
Official figures yesterday showed a further 54,990 lab-confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK, up 80 per cent from last week’s case figure of 30,501, while the number of deaths increased by 43 per cent from last Sunday to 454.
In the week leading up to Christmas it was outlined that all those living in a Tier 4 area must not mix households and congregate together, or face breaking the law.
Sportsmail understands that the government is reluctant to call out footballers for their behaviour, taking the view that there is an equal responsibility on everyone to follow official guidelines.
But there is growing anger among fans and the wider population after clubs themselves appeared to give out a mixed message over the actions, with some players retained in squads.
Asked by talkSPORT if clubs should ban players, Watford’s Troy Deeney replied: ‘They won’t do that, because ultimately it comes down to winning games.
‘So if you’re Crystal Palace and you don’t to play your captain, and you lose, fans are going: ‘Well, there’s no rule there. You’ve just done it. So why you doing it?’
‘They are not going to be in a win-win situation. It is on the Premier League to make that call and the FA obviously.’
Luka Milivojevic kept the captaincy of Crystal Palace against Sheffield United on Saturday, despite manager Roy Hodgson condemning him for attending a party with Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic.
The pair were filmed by Mitrovic’s partner Kristina Janjic at a New Year’s Eve party in London, with the footage posted on Instagram.
Fulham striker Mitrovic and Milivojevic, who are both Serbia internationals, were seen celebrating indoors with at least seven other people, with the words ‘Happy New Year 2021’ accompanying the video.
Roy Hodgson condemned Milivojevic, but he added: ‘I am rather surprised if there’s an outcry from Palace fans knowing that they are more concerned basically with us winning football matches of course, and not breaching Premier League protocols, but on the other hand this is a breach of government guidelines and we apologise for it.’
Watford striker Troy Deeney has said clubs will not ban players for Covid breaches
Tottenham Hotspur’s Jose Mourinho says he’s disappointed players have breached Covid rules
Fulham have been forced to postpone games against Spurs and Burnley as a result of a coronavirus outbreak at the club and manager Scott Parker has had to self-isolate after a member of his family showed symptoms of the virus, but has since tested negative.
In a statement Fulham said: ‘Following reports regarding Aleksandar Mitrović breaking Tier 4 restrictions and Fulham FC Covid protocols, the Club is looking into the matter fully as it takes a breach of the rules extremely seriously.
‘The player is aware of the Club’s disappointment and of the standards that are expected of him. The matter will now be dealt with internally.’
At Tottenham Hotspur, Sergio Reguilón was named as a substitute for the club’s game against Leeds United after he, Erik Lamela and Giovani Lo Celso were pictured on social media at a Christmas party.
West Ham’s Manuel Lanzini was photographed at the same gathering at which 15 adults and three children were pictrured.
Following Spurs victory over Leeds, Jose Mourinho revealed he had bought Reguilon a special Christmas dinner as he believed the Spaniard would be alone.
‘An amazing gift,’ he said. ‘Portuguese piglet, which is amazing for Portuguese and Spanish [people]. So I gave him this because I was told he was going to spend Christmas on his own.
‘He was not alone as you could see and we, as a club, feel disappointed because we give the players all the education, all the conditions. We are not happy, it was a negative surprise for us.’
It has since emerged that Erik Lamela will not be involved in Tottenham’s Carabao Cup semi-final against Brentford on Tuesday.
Tottenham have not given specific details of why Lamela was left out, but when asked if the forward would be available for the crucial clash with Brentford, or if he will be isolating, Jose Mourinho said: ‘Not available.’
Roy Hodgson has suggested Crystal Palace fans are more concerned with winning matches
When pressed, Mourinho added: ‘It’s not for me to tell you. I just tell you that against Brentford he cannot play.’
Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola defended Benjamin Mendy after the Manchester City star broke Government Covid rules by hosting a New Year’s Eve party. Guardiola’s defence of Mendy has been described as ‘shameful’ and ‘disgraceful’ by furious football fans.
Mendy broke Government restrictions by inviting two friends and a chef to his £5million mansion to see in 2021.
Neighbours have said other guests arrived at the house, but Mendy insists they were turned away.
Manchester City are now investigating the breach – which came just three days after a Covid-19 outbreak put paid to their Premier League fixture against Everton earlier this month.
But Guardiola still decided to name Mendy as a substitute for Sunday’s Premier League win at Chelsea and then launched a passionate defence of the 26-year-old afterwards.
The City boss said: ‘Benjamin already had Covid in the past, he has been tested every day like all the other players. He has explained, he knows what he has done and he will learn in the future.
‘He is part of the group, he is one of the guys who is much beloved in our group. In the stands today he was the most active player. He is a special guy for us and has an incredible heart.
‘I would like to see how many people will now judge him and see if they have the good intentions that he has.
‘But he has to understand some things. I would like to know how many people did this on New Year’s Eve, but normally in this society we judge the others when first we should judge ourselves.
‘I’m not justifying it, he broke the rules. But don’t give too many lessons to the others.’
Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola has defended Benjamin Mendy after he breached Covid rules
