Gareth Southgate bans his England stars from boozy nights in Russia next summer but won’t impose curfew
Three Lions boss says his players will be able to enjoy the odd beer in the wake of Ben Stokes' arrest for causing actual bodily harm on a night out
GARETH SOUTHGATE has banned his players from partying in Russia next summer.
England cricket star Ben Stokes was this week arrested on suspicion of causing actual bodily harm after fighting on a night out following Sunday’s win over West Indies.
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The FA reviewed their own policies regarding players’ down time after Wayne Rooney was pictured drinking until late in the team hotel a day after a win over Scotland last November.
Southgate insists he has not imposed an alcohol ban or curfew on his squad, and will allow them to spend time with their families at the World Cup.
But the Three Lions boss has told them to forget about having boozy nights out – because he knows what problems it could cause.
Southgate said: “I can't see in a tournament where we would be letting them go out at night.
“I can see why time with their families would be important.
"They've got to get out of the bubble because the danger is you're just camped in one hotel all the time and I don't think that's a natural environment for anybody.
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“But there has been no tournament I've been to where we have had a night out because I think we’d know where it would end up."
Southgate also admits it would be impossible to give his team the same time off as England's cricketers are afforded.
He added: "I don't think our guys could have that freedom because there is more people wanting to get involved with them, looking to trip them up.
"So we have to be a bit more secure around our team.
"We look very carefully about when we give players free time, how we control that.
“But the biggest thing is the commitment of the players to understand the guidelines, what is acceptable, what isn't."
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