I WON’T LET MY FAMILY TRAVEL TO RUSSIA AS I FEAR FOR THEIR SAFETY
ENGLAND star Danny Rose has banned his family from the World Cup in Russia – because he fears for their safety.
Six years ago, playing for the Under-21 side in Serbia, Rose was sent off for his angry reaction after being subjected to appalling racism, being pelted with stones and tormented with vile “monkey hoot” noises.
And Rose has taken the heartwrenching decision to tell his parents, Nigel and Angela, to stay at home, in case they suffer abuse in Russia.
Only last month, the Russians were fined £22,000 by FIFA after French players were racially abused at the host nation’s friendly in St Petersburg.
Tottenham defender Rose said: “It’s sad that we are going into a World Cup in 2018 and I’m having to field this question.
“I hope nothing like that will happen out there, but I’ve had to tell the family I don’t want them coming out to Russia because I’m worried about their safety.
“It’s going to affect my preparation for games, if I’m worrying about them, and that’s such a sad state of affairs.
“From the age of 11, when I had training three or four days a week, my dad would always make sure I was there.
“He’s come to watch me play for Spurs at Wembley this season, even though he doesn’t get home until 3am and he’s up again at 7am to go to work in Doncaster, working with children from troubled upbringings.
“He’s followed me all through my career and, when I had to tell him last week that I didn’t want him to come to Russia, I could tell he was really upset.
“That’s my decision, but, knowing him, he’ll probably turn up and not tell me!”
Rose revealed England players have discussed walking off the pitch in the event of their black players suffering racist abuse.
He said: “We’ve had a group discussion about what we might do and whether we would support each other.
“Personally, if it happened to me at club level, I would walk off the pitch. But doing that at the World Cup – where it could cost us three points or going through – is on a different level.
“You should not have to think about these things, but, if it happens, I will go to Harry Kane and let the captain deal with it.”