Foden ‘sorry’ for breaking rules on Iceland trip

FA to launch probe after City youngster and Greenwood sent home

Phil Foden has issued an apology after he and Mason Greenwood were sent home by England for what Gareth Southgate called a “very serious” breach of coronavirus regulations – as the Football Association announced a full investigation into the incident.

Within 48 hours of making their Three Lions debut against Iceland, the Manchester City playmaker and Manchester United forward are having to leave the camp after breaching the strict bio-bubble in Reykjavik.

Allegations emerged in the Icelandic media yesterday that Foden and Greenwood had spent time with two girls during the trip, with media outlet DV publishing purported footage filmed by one of them.

With an FA probe now hanging over the pair, Foden issued an apology via Twitter and vowed to “learn a valuable lesson from this error in judgment”.

“I apologise to Gareth Southgate, to my England team-mates, to the staff, supporters and also to my club and my family,” he wrote.

Southgate refused to confirm the exact nature of the breach but underlined England’s rapid response when it became clear that the duo had jeopardised the stringent Covid-19 measures.

“Unfortunately, this morning it was brought to my attention that the two boys have broken the Covid guidelines in terms of our secure bubble,” the England boss said.

“And so we had to decide very quickly that they couldn’t have any interaction with the rest of the team, wouldn’t be able to travel to training.

“Given the procedures that we have to follow now, they’ll have to travel back to England separately.”

Asked if the pair had put tonight’s Nations League clash against Denmark in jeopardy, Southgate said: “We’re very clear that no other members of our party have been in contact with those two players.”

The FA has vowed to fully investigate the circumstances leading up to the breach in Reykjavik.

“Whilst in Iceland, both Phil Foden and Mason Greenwood spent time outside of our private team area, which was a breach of our Covid-19 duties,” the governing body said in a statement.

“While they did not leave the team hotel, it was an unacceptable breach of our protocol. They have both apologised for their serious lack of judgment.

“The FA will be launching a full investigation into the circumstances leading up this breach.”

The FA has also apologised to the Football Association of Iceland.

Picture: PA. Steven Davis, right, won his 119th cap last night to equal theNorthern Ireland record of Pat Jennings, but it was a night to forget for Ian Baraclough’s men as they were beaten 5-1 by Norway in their Nations League meeting at Windsor Park.