Footballers who continue to breach coronavirus protocols by hugging after goals have been labelled “brainless” by a senior British lawmaker.
Manchester City and Fulham players crowded together after scoring on Wednesday, ignoring warnings from the Premier League to observe rules on unnecessary contact.
Britain is struggling to contain a surge in COVID-19 cases. On Wednesday a new record number of deaths were registered — 1,564 over 24 hours.
City boss Pep Guardiola defended his players after their 1-0 win, which moved them to third in the Premier League.
“We are tested maybe five or six times in the last 10 days,” he said at his post-match press conference. “Everyone is negative. In the real moment of joy, in the moment, to say the players don’t hug and celebrate together, it is instinct and reaction. It is difficult.
“The moment you score a goal and one guy runs and the others don’t go to celebrate with him, it is weird and uncomfortable.”