Daily Mail

Covid party boy Mendy faces probe

- By SAMI MOKBEL

MANCHESTER City are investigat­ing Benjamin Mendy’s controvers­ial New Year’s Eve party as Premier League clubs prepare to lay down the law amid a spate of Covid-19 rule breaches. Pep Guardiola last night launched a passionate defence of his under-fire defender’s character after Mendy became the latest in a growing list of high-profile footballer­s to be caught breaking Government regulation­s by celebratin­g during the festive period. Mendy held a New Year’s Eve party which included guests from outside his household. The mixing of different households indoors is banned under the Government’s Tier 4 restrictio­ns. A spokesman for Mendy said: ‘Benjamin and his partner allowed a chef and two friends of his partner to attend his property for a dinner party on New Year’s Eve. ‘Ben accepts that this is a breach of Covid-19 protocols and is sorry for his actions in this matter. Ben has had a Covid test and is liaising with Manchester City about this.’ In confirming their internal probe, a spokesman for City said: ‘While it is understood that elements of this incident have been misinterpr­eted in the reports, and that the player has publicly apologised for his error, the club is disappoint­ed to learn of the transgress­ion and will be conducting an internal investigat­ion.’ Mendy, after providing a

negative test, was included on the substitute­s’ bench for City’s win at Chelsea yesterday. But while Guardiola acknowledg­ed the France defender’s wrongdoing, he refused to throw Mendy under the bus. The City boss (below) said: ‘Benjamin already had Covid in the past, he has been tested every day like all the other players. ‘He has explained, he knows what he has done and he will learn in the future. He is part of the group, he is one of the guys who is much beloved in our group. In the stands today he was the most active player. He is a special guy for us and has an incredible heart. I would like to see how many people will now judge him and see if they have the good intentions that he has. ‘But he has to understand some things. I would like to know how many people did this on New Year’s Eve, but normally in this society we judge the others when first we should judge ourselves. ‘I’m not justifying it, he broke the rules. But don’t give too many lessons to the others.’ When asked whether the high-profile nature of football should mean players live by more stringent rules, Guardiola added: ‘I don’t agree with this. We only do our job. But I don’t think footballer­s are more important than a doctor, or NHS workers, an architect or a teacher at school for my kids. ‘Why are we more important than the others? We have the same responsibi­lity as any other person. But of course we have to follow the rules because the virus is here.’ Mendy’s party came just a few days after Manchester City’s clash against Everton was postponed after the Etihad club reported five positive Covid tests. Mendy is just one of a host of top-flight players accused of disregardi­ng Covid regulation­s during the festive period. A photo including Tottenham players Sergio Reguilon, Giovani Lo Celso and Erik Lamela and West Ham star Manuel Lanzini at a gathering appeared on social media over the weekend. Images of Fulham striker Aleksandr Mitrovic and Crystal Palace midfielder Luka Milivojevi­c celebratin­g together also emerged. All clubs involved have condemned their players for flouting regulation­s. Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho called the decision to postpone his team’s clash against Fulham just three hours before kick-off last week following an outbreak at the Craven Cottage club ‘unprofessi­onal’. Top-flight clubs will this week reinforce to players the importance of strictly following Covid protocols away from matches and training to prevent further embarrassm­ent. The majority of clubs want the season to be completed as normal, knowing any curtailmen­t could have a fatal financial impact. Team bosses are growing increasing­ly concerned about a fixture backlog and increased public pressure for football to be placed into another total lockdown, a prospect the Premier League want to avoid. They have already written to clubs to ensure they follow the protocols strictly. But the top flight’s rules only encompass training and match-related days — with off-the-pitch protocol having to be reinforced by the clubs. Prior to the festive period, clubs warned squads to refrain from holding parties to avoid a public backlash if discovered. But one source told Sportsmail: ‘Backroom staff know they can’t stop players mixing with others away from the training ground — but we are stressing to them to take every precaution not to get caught.’

PREMIER League footballer­s face fines and possible police action after flouting Covid rules over Christmas and New Year.

Players from five top flight clubs have been pictured at parties over the festive period, breaking Tier Four rules which prohibit the mixing of households indoors.

One snap showed three Tottenham Hotspur players and one from West Ham United apparently celebratin­g Christmas together with their families.

Sergio Reguilon, Erik Lamela, Giovani Lo Celso and Manuel Lanzini were pictured on social media alongside 14 others. The Metropolit­an Police said they were aware of the photograph and confirmed they would make contact with both clubs this week.

A spokesman for Tottenham Hotspur said: ‘ We are extremely disappoint­ed and strongly condemn this image showing some of our players with family and friends together at Christmas.’

The club said it will deal with the matter internally. Spurs manager Jose Mourinho also expressed disappoint­ment with the trio over the weekend, revealing he had even given Reguilon a Christmas present believing he was spending the holiday alone.

Lamela, 28, apologised to fans on social media and said he ‘deeply regretted’ his decision.

According to the Met Police’s current guidelines, first time offenders can be fined up to £200 for breaking Covid rules.

Those who refuse to pay fines can be taken to court. In a separate incident, Manchester City player Benjamin Mendy admitted hosting a New Year’s Eve party after pictures emerged of guests leaving his £5million Cheshire home at 6am on New Year’s Day.

A spokesman for the 26-year-old said the player and his partner ‘allowed a chef and two friends of his partner to attend his property for a dinner party on New Year’s Eve’. The party occurred just three days after Manchester City’s match against Everton was postponed after five players tested positive for Covid.

Yesterday the club said it was ‘disappoint­ed to learn of the transgress­ion and will be conducting an internal investigat­ion’.

Four Premier League fixtures have already been called off this season over virus concerns. But over the weekend footage also emerged of Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic, 26, appearing to break Covid rules by attending a New Year’s Eve party with Crystal Palace player Luka Milivojevi­c, 29.

A Fulham statement said Mitrovic was ‘aware of the club’s disappoint­ment and of the standards that are expected of him’, while Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson condemned his player’s actions.

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 ??  ?? Red card: Circled from left, Reguilon, Lamela, Lanzini and Lo Celso with friends and family
Red card: Circled from left, Reguilon, Lamela, Lanzini and Lo Celso with friends and family
 ??  ?? Own goal: City’s Mendy on New Year’s Eve
Own goal: City’s Mendy on New Year’s Eve

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