MASON GREENWOOD and Phil Foden have been axed from the England squad for inviting two girls to their hotel. Gareth Southgate confirmed the shamed duo will be sent home after breaching the coronavirus guidelines following the win over Iceland. What we know so far: Man Utd and City slam Greenwood and Foden in brutal statements […]
MASON GREENWOOD and Phil Foden have been axed from the England squad for inviting two girls to their hotel.
Gareth Southgate confirmed the shamed duo will be sent home after breaching the coronavirus guidelines following the win over Iceland.
What we know so far:
Manchester United star Greenwood, 18, and City ace Phil Foden, 20, both made their international debuts in the 1-0 win over Iceland.
According to sources from Iceland including newspaper DV, the two girls posted photographs of Greenwood and Foden to Snapchat.
In the video, one girl can be heard saying: “Casual Sunday here with *****. She was booking a hotel to meet who?”
The other one answered: “Mason Greenwood, and I’m nervous. Very f****** nervous.”
Southgate confirmed the pair will NOT play in the match against Denmark on Tuesday.
Here's the transcript of the phone conversation between the players and the girls:
Player 1: “Say that again? What was you saying?”
Girl 1: Laughing “What’s the plan?”
Player 1: “What’s the plan?”
Girl 1: “Mmm”
Player 2: “It depends what you want.”
Player 1: “He said, ‘Depends, what do you want?’”
Girl 1: “We can come to the hotel, but I don’t know how you’re going to sneak us in.”
Player 1: “What are you coming to the hotel for?”
Player 2: “What do you think?!”
Girl 1: “Yeah – what do you think bro!” Laughs
Player 1: “Have you got a mate?”
Speaking to the media, he said: “Unfortunately this morning it was brought to my attention two guys have broken the covid guidelines in terms of our secure bubble and so we had to decide very quickly they could not have any interaction with the team and could not travel to training.
“Given the procedures we have to follow they will have to travel back to separately.”
When asked if they had invited two girls to their hotel, Southgate replied: “Nothing has happened in the areas we occupy in the hotel.
“We are still getting to the depths of the information. I am still getting to grips with the details but what is clear there was a breach of the covid guidelines.
“We have spent such a long time getting the measures in place and the whole squad have followed that.
“We have had four tests since we have been together and the staff have done an incredible job to keep it safe and tight.
“In that respect we had no alternative to do what we are doing.
“I am not going into any more detail. No-one from outside our party has been in the hotels we occupy.”
When asked about punishing the pair for breaching the rules, Southgate said: “All of those things are too early until I have all the information.”
Both Man City and United have also both condemned the actions of their respective players.
England’s squad were exempt from Iceland’s quarantine guidelines, but they had to abide by strict rules while in the country.
Gareth Southgate’s men were not allowed to meet anyone outside of their bubble.
According to DV’s source, the players would not have even been allowed to see their families if they had travelled to the match.
The girls refused to comment on their evening with the England stars when asked by DV.
They said: “We do not want to discuss this. We don’t want to get them in trouble.”
However, she stated that she had been in contact with one of the England stars for a few days.
She added: “The only thing I can say is that I had been in touch with one of them for a few days. I’m not going to say how.”
Foden became a dad when he was 18 years old and is in a relationship with long-term partner Rebecca Cooke.
Both United and City have released statements slating their players following the incident.
A statement from Manchester City read: “It is clear that Phil’s actions were totally inappropriate. His behaviour not only directly contravenes strict guidelines related to Covid-19, but also falls well below the standard expected of a Manchester City player and England international #MCFC”
Greenwood is believed to be single following his split from model Harriet Robson in April.
United’s statement confirmed the club are in talks with the FA.
It read: “Manchester United are liaising with the Football Association and are disappointed with the actions of Mason Greenwood over this situation.”
