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English footballers Mason Greenwood and Phil Foden have been eliminated from the squad for the next game against Denmark after breaking coronavirus protocols.
The Football Association (FA) is investigating media reports that the couple violated restrictions by meeting two local women while the team was staying at a hotel in Reykjavik, Iceland.
Manchester City midfielder Foden, 20, and Manchester United striker Greenwood, 18, missed training on Monday morning, two days after making their England debut against Iceland in a UEFA Nations game League.
Mason Greenwood shoots during England’s League of Nations game against Iceland on Saturday
Phil Foden made his England debut in Saturday’s 1-0 win in Iceland
When asked about the reports, which first appeared on Icelandic website DV433.is, manager Gareth Southgate said: “Two guys have broken the COVID guidance in terms of our safe bubble, so we’ve had to decide very quickly that they will not have any contact with the team.
“Given the procedures we have to follow now, they have to travel back to England separately. They have been naive,” added the coach.
“I recognize their age, but the whole world is dealing with this pandemic and each age group has a responsibility to play their part and not spread the virus. They have apologized.”
When asked if the duo had invited the girls to their rooms as the website claims, Southgate, who said he is “still understanding the details” of the incident, added that “nothing has happened in the areas we occupy in the hotel.
“What is clear is that there is a violation of the COVID-19 guidelines. The entire team has really followed it to the letter. I am not going to go into more details until I am aware of everything.
England manager Gareth Southgate said the pair have been ‘naive’
“We have had four tests in the period that we have been together, our staff have done an incredible job keeping it safe and tight, which was very important both for the games to be played and for the safety of our team and staff.
“So in that sense we have no alternative but to do what we are doing.”
When asked if the match in Copenhagen can now be canceled, Southgate said: “We are very clear that no other member of our party has been in contact with those two players.
“That’s why they couldn’t go to breakfast this morning or join us for training. We are very clear that we have followed all the guidelines in this regard.
“It is a very serious situation and we have treated it that way and we acted as quickly as we could.
