3 LIONS GO STER CRAZY
Fears over game ban after Gomez bust-up
FRANK Lampard’s strict rules for his Chelsea boys were leaked last night – and include a £20,000 fine for being late to training.
The Blues boss has guided his young side, including 22-year-old in-form striker Tammy Abraham, to third in the Premier League – with the help of some rigid sanctions for rule-breaking.
If a squad member arrives late for Frank’s coaching he is hit for £20,000 – while anyone tardy for team meetings is fined £500 for every minute they are not present.
And if their phone rings during a
THE football world was divided last night over England’s handling of Raheem Sterling’s bustup with Joe Gomez.
Even former team-mates were split over manager Gareth Southgate’s decision to drop the Manchester City star for squaring up to Liverpool’s Gomez at a training camp.
Sterling, 24, is understood to have tried to grab Gomez by the neck in the canteen at England’s St George’s Park HQ on Monday.
It came a day after they clashed during Liverpool’s
3-1 Premier League win over City.
Southgate has now dropped Sterling from tomorrow’s vital Euro 2020 qualifier against Montenegro.
But the winger will be eligible to play against Kosovo on Sunday.
Sterling said “emotions got the better” of him, adding: “Both Joe and I have had words and figured things out and moved on.”
But Southgate’s decision to publicly punish one of his star players has divided opinion.
Even former Manchester United and England teammates Gary Neville and Rio Ferdinand could not agree. Neville, 44, praised the manager for sending out a “clear message” about not letting club rivalries divide the national team.
But Rio, 41, said: “The main question is: ‘Why this couldn’t be handled internally?.’” Man City legend Rodney Marsh, 75, praised the manager’s “big balls” but was worried about Sterling’s England career. He added: “I don’t see a way back for Raheem under Southgate as he threw him under the bus... apparently with the support of the team.’’ Last night Southgate said his squad was “like a family” and arguments were inevitable. He confirmed Sterling was the aggressor but refused to say if a scratch on Gomez’s face – seen on photos taken at England training yesterday – was related to the bust-up. team meal they are hit for £1,000. Players must also inform the club if they intend to travel abroad, even on scheduled days off.
The rule sheet was signed by Frank early in the season, with proceeds going to “team activities and charitable causes”.