Roy defends going Eze on ‘naive’ star after breach
CRYSTAL Palace playmaker Ebere Eze has been cleared to play against Arsenal tonight despite manager Roy Hodgson admitting he showed ‘naivety’ in breaching coronavirus protocols.
Hodgson says Eze has apologised for attending former club QPR’s FA Cup tie with Fulham on Saturday, where he watched without a mask and with one empty seat between him and another person in the directors’ box (pictured).
Although Palace issued a statement on Monday saying they would deal with the incident, that will not prevent the 22-year-old from playing tonight.
‘When he realised what he did – naively and without any malice – he was full of remorse, regret and wanted to take responsibility and apologise to everybody,’ Hodgson said.
‘Do I think the foolish thing Eberechi did merits that he should be left out?
‘I don’t think what he did would merit that type of punishment, but it does merit a fine because a slap on the wrist isn’t really enough.’
The incident came a week after Palace captain Luka Milivojevic was fined for breaking social distancing rules and QPR boss Mark Warburton admitted Eze’s request to attend the thirdround tie should have been rejected. Hodgson added: ‘It was naivety on his part to think it was okay. It obviously isn’t. We are a bit disappointed he wasn’t stopped from going and QPR have done well in that respect.
‘They have taken responsibility because had we known he planned to do that, we would have stopped it.’
Hodgson revealed Nathaniel Clyne, who returned to Selhurst Park on a three-month deal in October, is ‘very close’ to signing a longer agreement.
Although the Eagles have not lost to Arsenal in almost three years, Hodgson is not surprised by the Gunners’ resurgence under boss Mikel Arteta.
‘I never expected anything other than sooner or later for them to come back to the Arsenal we know and expect them to be,’ he added.