Own goals during the coronavirus lockdown

Football

Marcos Rojo is the latest to break Government rules.

Marcus Rojo has become the latest Premier League player to break coronavirus lockdown rules.

It is the latest in a string of own goals in the sport since the pandemic started.

Here, the PA news agency looks at the high-profile ones.

Jack Grealish

Police were called to the Dickens Heath area of Solihull to reports that a Range Rover had crashed into two parked cars, with pictures emerging online of the Aston Villa midfielder in slippers and a bright blue hoodie. Grealish later said he was “deeply embarrassed” after he “stupidly agreed” to go to a friend’s house – less than a day after launching a video appeal for people to stay at home during the Government-enforced lockdown.

Kyle Walker

The Manchester City and England full-back said sorry after it was widely reported he held a party at his home, with the threat of disciplinary action following as his club promised an “internal disciplinary procedure”. Like Grealish, he had earlier urged the public to follow the Government advice.

Tottenham

Jose Mourinho and his players were seen at a north London park
Jose Mourinho and his players were seen at a north London park (PA)

Tottenham’s players were spotted flouting social distancing rules as Jose Mourinho was seen working in a Barnet park with Tanguy Ndombele. Davinson Sanchez and Ryan Sessegnon were also caught by a social media user running side by side around the same park and Serge Aurier also posted a video of himself on Instagram jogging alongside another person. The club, who also reversed their decision to furlough staff following a backlash, underlined the Government’s Covid-19 regulations to their players. But little over a fortnight later, Aurier was at it again, posting a video on his Instagram Story of him training with team-mate Moussa Sissoko before deleting it.

Liverpool

Liverpool did the same as Spurs. The Premier League leaders, who in February announced pre-tax profits of GBP 42million for 2018-19, furloughed some non-playing staff before performing a U-turn on the decision, with chief executive Peter Moore admitting they came to the “wrong conclusion”. Bournemouth also followed suit.

Arsenal

Arsenal had to speak to four of their players after they were spotted flouting Government guidelines
Arsenal had to speak to four of their players after they were spotted flouting Government guidelines (Adam Davy/PA)

Arsenal were forced to speak to David Luiz, Alexandre Lacazette, Nicolas Pepe and Granit Xhaka after they were pictured flouting Government guidelines on social distancing. Luiz and Xhaka were seen meeting up in a park in north London, a video emerged of Pepe playing football with his friends, while Lacazette was pictured getting too close to a man valeting his car on his drive.

Moise Kean

Moise Kean filmed himself attending a party during the lockdown
Moise Kean filmed himself attending a party during the lockdown (Nick Potts/PA)

Everton labelled Kean’s actions “unacceptable” after he filmed himself partying at home with guests in a breach of social distancing regulations. The Toffees said in a statement: “Everton Football Club was appalled to learn of an incident in which a first-team player ignored Government guidance and club policy in relation to the coronavirus crisis. The club has strongly expressed its disappointment to the player and made it clear that such actions are completely unacceptable.”

Marcos Rojo

Manchester United defender Marcos Rojo is on loan at Estudiantes
Manchester United defender Marcos Rojo is on loan at Estudiantes (Martin Rickett/PA)

The PA news agency understands Manchester United will remind Marcos Rojo of his responsibilities after the defender was filmed appearing to flout Argentina’s lockdown rules. The 30-year-old, on loan at Estudiantes, was seen playing cards and smoking with friends in his homeland, where president Alberto Fernandez recently extended lockdown until May 10.

Latest