FOUR Sevilla players have made grovelling apologies after breaching lockdown rules and LaLiga’s protocol to have lunch with their Wags.
Midfielder Ever Banega’s wife Valeria Juan posted the photo that landed him and his team-mates in hot water – because it showed them gathered round a table with 12 people on it instead of the maximum ten.
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Four Sevilla players were forced to apologise after flaunting lockdown restrictions to have lunch with their familiesCredit: Instagram
Ever Banega, Luuk de Jong, Franco Vasquez and Lucas Ocampos attended the lunch and were heavily criticisedCredit: Instagram
The former Argentine international admitted his error on social media after a heavy backlash over the snap of the footballers with their wives and other friends enjoying paella, beer and hookahs in temperatures of around 35C.
He wrote: “I want to say sorry for what happened yesterday.
“It was a get-together with family and team-mates. But unwittingly we made a mistake. I want to apologise to our club, our supporters and society in general.
“It won’t happen again, we just want to play again as soon as possible.”
Dutchman Luuk de Jong, who spent half a year on loan at Newcastle in 2014, added: “I want to apologise to everyone who felt offended by what happened yesterday. It won’t be repeated. We want the league to restart. We just want to start playing again.”
Similar apologies were offered by defender Franco Vasquez and Lucas Ocampos, who was recently identified as a potential Liverpool and Real Madrid target.
Argentinian Vasquez called the breach an “error” and admitted they had failed team-mates, their club, and LaLiga.
Their gaffe occurred the same day as Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez announced Spain’s top flight could restart from June 8.
LaLiga described it as “inadmissible and incomprehensible” in a statement and claimed it could put the return of the competition at risk.
President Javier Tebas later added: “The players have repented and put out statements saying sorry.
“We are an example to society and have to be very careful.
“I call on all players not to engage in this type of behaviour. Posting the photo is not the issue. We’re putting the football industry at risk.
“Someone may be carrying the virus and show no symptoms and we have to be very careful and responsible with the things we do.
“The positive thing is that they have said sorry and we urge players to continue being cautious. We cannot let our guard down, LaLiga, the clubs or the players.”
The first match to be played in the LaLiga restart is expected to be the Seville derby – Sevilla against Real Betis – on June 11 or 12.
Enraged fan Antonio Alonso, one of those who shared Vanega’s wife’s photos of the footballers’ get-together before she removed them from her Instagram, wrote: “Hello police and LaLiga.
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“Ever Banega published these photos on his social media today.
“It’s reckless and puts him and he rest of his group at risk, as well as indirectly his other team-mates.
“I don’t really care about them but on June 12 they’re playing against Real Betis and I do care about that.
Seville was in phase one of Spain’s four-stage coronavirus recovery programme when the snap was taken, limiting social gatherings of friends to a maximum of ten.
On Monday, it moved onto stage two, leading to a further easing of restrictions.
There have also been a number of Premier League covidiots who have ignored government advice during the lockdown.
Jack Grealish crashed his Range Rover following a 4am party, hitting three other vehicles just hours after urging fans to stay at home.
Kyle Walker hosted a three-hour sex party with a friend and two call girls in his flat before later travelling to see his sister and parents in Yorkshire.
Moise Kean also decided to have a raunchy party at his pad in Cheshire – several models were seen lapdancing and touching the crotches of men in footage posted to a private Snapchat group with the caption “quarantine clean”.
North London rivals Tottenham and Arsenal have both had their stars break the rules by training together and meeting up in public.
Serge Aurier posted a picture of himself and his barber inside together, a third separate incident of flaunting the guidelines.
Banega, middle, and his Sevilla team-mates could restart the LaLiga season with the derby against Real BetisCredit: Handout – Getty
Simon Jordan asks players where they draw the line when it comes to Premier League return
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
