My players must feel safe, says Southgate

GARETH Southgate will speak to his England players and Premier League clubs to try to allay fears about travelling to Russia for the World Cup.

The England manager said he was ‘desperate’ to see his team take part in the tournament, but stressed the safety of players, their families and supporters was paramount.

The FA will work closely with government officials as tensions between the UK and hosts Russia continue to escalate.

Southgate said: ‘It’s really important for us that our players, their families and our fans feel safe, and feel there are plans in place to look after them.

‘We always liaise with the clubs (but) I think the players would be the biggest consideration. They’ll have questions and they will have things they are uncertain of.

‘We have to give them the facts we have, allay fears they have and make sure they and their families are safe and secure.

‘The only thing at this stage that is of the highest importance is the safety and security of our players and our travelling fans. But we are desperate to go to a World Cup.’

With 23 Russian diplomats being expelled from the UK yesterday, Southgate received questions he would not normally expect on the day of a squad announcement. For instance, would the team chef be feeding England’s footballers with local produce? And to whom would the FA party turn to in emergency should the Russians retaliate by expelling British diplomats?

Southgate said he planned to discuss the political crisis with his players next week in the hope of alleviating any fears by explaining the steps that are being taken to ensure the squad, FA staff and fans are safe when they travel to Russia in June.

‘It’s something I would raise with them because it’s so visible just now,’ he said. ‘It is important when there is speculation and uncertainty that you put it into context for everybody.’

He was asked how he might respond to a player who did have concerns.

‘Always, when we’re preparing for an away match, it’s important that our players, their families and our supporters feel safe,’ he said. ‘And feel there are plans in place to look after them properly.

‘We need them to be able to focus on playing football with as little as possible going on in the background to interfere with their performance.

‘We would always have briefings, meetings. And our security guys would keep us up to speed. That is very important to us.’ Sat beside Southgate (left) was Rob Sullivan, who worked as head of strategic planning at the Conservative Party prior to joining the FA.

Sullivan said: ‘It’s important to remember that we have an experienced security advisor, who has worked on several tournaments.’

Southgate accepted that his players may not be able to shut out their concerns if the situation with Russia remains unresolved come the summer.

‘We’re all human and we’re all affected by events around us and things that might distract us from our job,’ he said. ‘That’s why it’s important, as a manager, that I’ve got the right support around the players, around the support team as well because they’re in the same position.’

A chef is part of that support team and only yesterday did it occur to Southgate that there could be an issue around the food during the tournament. Only last week, one expert told the BBC he would not dismiss the possibility of some kind of chemical attack on the England party.

Asked if they would consume locally-sourced food, Southgate said: ‘I don’t see any reason why we wouldn’t.’

But Southgate was clear on one thing. He has no desire to see England boycott the World Cup and hopes the relations between the two countries soon improve.

‘It’s a serious matter and it’s developing very quickly,’ he said. ‘But my job is to concentrate on football and prepare the team.’

Sullivan was asked how the absence of a diplomatic service, or a reduced one, could affect planning.

‘We have that flow of information from within the Foreign Office and we work closely with the security and policing services,’ said Sullivan.