Weston McKennie ‘was suspended by the USA team after bringing unauthorised person into team bubble’

REVEALED: USA midfielder Weston McKennie ‘spent a night outside their bubble AND brought someone back to the team hotel on another evening’ – leading to the Juventus star, 23, being sent home in disgrace

  • Weston McKennie got into hot water on USA duty after breaking Covid rules  
  • He was suspended for the 1-1 draw against Canada following his conduct  
  • The Juventus star reportedly invited an unauthorised person into their bubble 
  • He is also said to have spent an evening away from the team hotel
  • Juventus were left furious while USA legend Landon Donovan called him selfish 


Juventus star Weston McKennie broke two Covid protocols while on United States duty, including bringing an unauthorised individual into the team’s bubble, it has been claimed.

The midfielder was suspended by the USA after breaching their strict rules to keep the team safe for games against El Salvador, Canada and Honduras – with the player issuing an apology after being forced to miss the clash against the Canadians.

Writing on his Instagram story, he wrote: ‘Unfortunately, I am suspended for tonight’s match due to a violation of team COVID-19 protocols. I am sorry for my actions. I will be cheering hard for the boys tonight and hope to be back with the team soon.’

USA star Weston McKennie was reportedly suspended after two breaches of the team’s Covid protocols, including bringing an unauthorised person into their bubble

Juventus were furious with Weston McKennie after breaching Covid rules on USA duty

He issued an apology on social media after missing the 1-1 draw with Canada

Juventus were furious with Weston McKennie after the breach, with the player issuing an apology on social media after missing the 1-1 draw with Canada

ESPN has now reported that the 23-year-old was sanctioned for spending a night away from the team bubble, while also inviting a person into the hotel. 

McKennie had taken part in the 0-0 draw against El Salvador before coach Gregg Berhalter revealed he would sit out of the Canada game after a violation of ‘team policy’.

Sportsmail reported this week that his club Juventus were seething after his conduct having already been angered by him hosting a party in April during Italy’s lockdown and are now willing to sell him in January. 

According to Tuttosport, Tottenham and Aston Villa would be ready to make an offer to Juventus – but the starting price is £25million.  

He is also said to have spent a night away from the team hotel and is set to miss Honduras clash

He is also said to have spent a night away from the team hotel and is set to miss Honduras clash

Berhalter said McKennie still had a future with the USA despite his behaviour and said they made the decision to exclude him ‘for the good of the team’. 

‘I think when you talk about team policies and team roles and what we’re trying to accomplish as a team, the team absolutely comes first,’ Berhalter told the press. ‘And we made this decision not only for the short term, but for the long-term health from the program. It’s not an easy decision, trust me.

‘Countless coaches are faced with decisions where they have to take talented players out of the lineup for some reason or other, but we did it for what we think is the good of the group and good of the team. And it is what it is when obviously, we’re going to be missing Weston for Wednesday. But it doesn’t rule him out for the future, but we know that we’ll be without him for Wednesday.’

USA legend Landon Donovan was far from as forgiving as McKennie’s coach, saying he was ‘incredibly disappointed’ in the player and had work to do to mend his relationship with his team-mates.

McKennie was roundly criticised for his actions with Landon Donovan calling him 'selfish

McKennie was roundly criticised for his actions with Landon Donovan calling him ‘selfish 

In a stinging attack on McKennie, he claimed he had displayed ‘a level of selfishness that is beyond me’.

He told the Futbal with Grant Wahl podcast: ‘It is almost beyond repair, and he has a lot of work to do with his team-mates to make sure that he never does something like that again because you lose trust in your team-mates.

‘I am I am privy to what happened I’m not going to announce that publicly,’ Donovan said. 

‘I will just say, I am incredibly disappointed in Weston, incredibly disappointed. Look, I can understand Juventus during a long club season, you’re sitting at home for months and months and months and you want to have people over. Is it the smartest thing to do? No, but I get it.

The USA legend tore into the midfielder and said he was 'incredibly disappointed' in him

The USA legend tore into the midfielder and said he was ‘incredibly disappointed’ in him 

‘This is one week of your life with three massive games, not only for yourself but for your team-mates and your country and the level of selfishness is beyond me. He is old enough to know you don’t put yourself in this situation. Would they win the game if he is on the field? I don’t know but their chances would go up a lot. 

‘It doesn’t mean he is a horrible human being and he can learn from this but this can never, ever, ever happen again.’ 

McKennie will play no part in USA’s next clash against Honduras and will instead be sent back to Italy in disgrace  

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