Club grills star over banned kickabout
FOOTBALLER IN MOONLIGHTING CLAIM ROW Top player snapped with five-a-side team
Dundee United have investigated claims one of their top players moonlighted as a five-a-side star for a team called The Groin Strokers.
Scotland under- 21 forward Paul McMullan was quizzed by manager Ray McKinnon over suggestions he has been strutting his stuff at Powerleague in Glasgow. The ex- Celtic starlet was snapped in a team l ine- up in a picture posted on Powerleague Glasgow’s Facebook page on September 6.
The hastily- deleted post read: “A very warm welcome to new division 2 team, the Groin Strokers, who had a fantastic debut and won 25-7 against The Blades. Well done guys!”
It sparked a probe by McMullan’s Tannadice employers amid concerns he had breached strict rules against extracurricular activities that risk injury.
A Powerleague player said: “The last thing you’d expect to see is a Scotland international at a five-a-side kickabout. He appears stripped and ready for action with his four pals in the photo.”
McMullan’s agent Paul McHale said: “I had no idea. I’ll speak to him because my concern is that he’s not insured for that type of thing, if he gets injured and can’t play. It’s a dangerous one.” Winger McMullan has had an impressive start to the season after leaving Celtic to sign a two-year deal with Dundee United – scoring five goals in 10 appearances.
But the youngster was sent off for hitting out at Queen of the South defender Shaun RooneyRo in a match last month. A Dundee UnitedUn spokesman said: “Paul was down therethe and got a picture taken but he didn’tdid play any games. He was supporting his mates.
“HeH knows that as a professional footballerfoot he shouldn’t be playing games.
“We’veW seen the picture and it was all put to Paul, who pointed out it’s trainers he’s got on – not football boots. He’s stated that he did not play in it.”
ManagersM routinely ban their players from risky extra-curricular activities.
FabioFa Capello banned players from playing golf in his stint as EnglandEng manager.
Ex-ExScotland boss Alex McLeish also orderedorde a golf ban 48 hours before a match whenwhe in charge at Birmingham City.
RangersRa famously banned goalkeeper Andy Goram from playing cricket for Scotland in the 1990s.
Man City boss Pep Guardiola even banned his players from having sex after midnight the night before matches to curb muscle strains.