Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United have both condemned the actions of a number of first team players, who broke lockdown rules together over Christmas.
Spurs trio Sergio Reguilon, Erik Lamela and Giovani Lo Celso as well as West Ham’s Manuel Lanzini were pictured breaking coronavirus lockdown regulations.
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“We are extremely disappointed and strongly condemn this image showing some of our players with family and friends together at Christmas,” a Tottenham statement read.
“Particularly as we know the sacrifices everybody around the country made to stay safe over the festive period.
“The rules are clear, there are no exceptions, and we regularly remind all our players and staff about the latest protocols and their responsibilities to adhere and set an example.
“The matter will be dealt with internally.”
Lamela and Lo Celso are not involved in Spurs’ Saturday clash with Leeds United, while Reguilon is on the bench.
A number of rising COVID-19 cases at Fulham saw their clash with Tottenham, originally due to take place on Dec. 30, postponed — a decision Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho called “unprofessional.”
“I don’t want to speak too much about it,” Mourinho told reporters ahead of Saturday’s match against Leeds United. Just to say I felt [it was] unprofessional, but that is the way it was.
“We were preparing ourselves for that match and of course we didn’t play, and that is disruptive of what is a week of work.
“Training sessions before that would be different if we were going to play that game. People say good for me that there was no game, but only good for me if I knew there was no game.”
West Ham said: “The club has set the highest possible standards with its protocols and measures relating to COVID-19 so we are disappointed to learn of Manuel Lanzini’s actions.
“The matter has been dealt with internally and Manuel has been strongly reminded of his responsibilities.”