Footballers must be role models over Covid rules: Villa chief

Villa captain Jack Grealish is one in every of a bunch of Premier League stars to interrupt the lockdown restrictions because the pandemic hit.

The England winger was fined two weeks wages for his offence final 12 months.

However a number of extra top-flight gamers have damaged the Covid-19 protocols, put in place to attempt to restrict the unfold of the virus, over Christmas and the New 12 months.

Tottenham trio Erik Lamela, Sergio Reguilon and Giovani Lo Celso attended a Christmas get together together with West Ham’s Manuel Lanzini.

Manchester Metropolis’s France defender Benjamin Mendy reportedly allowed a chef and two buddies of his companion to go to his dwelling, in keeping with a report in The Solar.

A number of Premier League matches have been postponed on account of virus outbreaks at Newcastle, Fulham and Manchester Metropolis this season.

Purslow claimed Villa have been strict with gamers who’ve damaged the principles, though Grealish and team-mate Ross Barkley weren’t disciplined for consuming at a restaurant collectively final month in contravention of London guidelines on the time.

“I take a really dim view of it,” stated Purslow.

“We have had a few situations and we have taken a really strict line on that.

“One of many shining lights of soccer has been the truth that, in such powerful occasions, we have been in a position to maintain the present on the highway and supply leisure at a time when there’s little or no entertaining on the market.

“Meaning that there is a big give attention to our gamers and so they have to know that they’re function fashions, they’ve to know that they are within the public eye and my mantra is that they have attempt to be whiter than white in every little thing they do.”

Purslow stated on account of being a father of 4 he had seen the strains the restrictions positioned on younger individuals.

“I’ve bought 4 youngsters between the ages of 19 and 25, I’ve watched within the final 9 months how extremely difficult it’s,” he stated.

“There are moments when younger individuals will stray from the principles and, whether or not you are a mum or dad or the chief govt of a soccer membership, that is a time when you need to be very strict and remind individuals of their obligations.”

Watford striker Troy Deeney echoed Purslow’s remarks and agreed gamers should be function fashions as a result of they’re in a “privileged place.”

“I’ll upset a couple of individuals with what I say right here however: you already know higher. We all know higher as gamers,” he advised TalkSPORT radio.

“Do not be posting (on social media) after which be going, ‘Why are individuals coming for me?'”

There have been requires gamers who break the principles to be banned, however Deeney believes that should come from the authorities relatively than self-policing by golf equipment.

“They will not try this as a result of in the end it comes all the way down to successful video games,” stated Deeney.

“It is on the Premier League to make that decision and the FA (Soccer Affiliation).”

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