Smith to speak to Grealish and Barkley after pair breached Covid rules
Aston Villa boss Dean Smith plans to speak to Jack Grealish and Ross Barkley but England stars unlikely to be fined for breaching Covid rules by attending party at Mayfair restaurant
- Grealish and Barkley broke coronavirus rules in London at the weekend
- It is the second time Grealish has been in trouble regarding Covid rules
- The pair are scheduled to have coronavirus tests on Monday morning
Dean Smith will on Monday remind Jack Grealish and Ross Barkley of their responsibilities after the pair breached social distancing guidelines at the weekend.
The England international duo were pictured at a London restaurant on Saturday afternoon. Tier 2 coronavirus protocols state ‘you must not socialise with anyone you do not live with or who is not in your support bubble in any indoor setting, whether at home or in a public place.’
Villa boss Smith is expected to speak to both players after the club were sent footage obtained by a newspaper of his players at the London venue. It is thought unlikely at this stage that either will he fined.
Jack Grealish and Ross Barkley allegedly broke coronavirus rules on Saturday in London
Villa’s players had the weekend off after last Friday’s Premier League march against Newcastle was postponed due to a number of Covid-19 cases within the Magpies’ squad.
It is understood Grealish and Barkley were due to have coronavirus tests on Monday morning ahead of the scheduled afternoon training session.
A Villa spokesman said: ‘Having reviewed footage forwarded to us on Saturday, it appears as though two of our players who live in Tier 2 areas of the country were eating in a restaurant in a tier 2 location on Saturday afternoon during a weekend off. They left the restaurant at 7.45pm.’
Pair were given weekend off after match at Newcastle was postponed due to positive tests
Grealish was fined about £150,000 for breaching Government guidelines earlier this year for visiting a friend’s flat in March after urging fans on social media to stay at their homes during the spring lockdown.
The 25-year-old apologised and donated the fine to The University Hospitals Charity in Birmingham.
Barkley joined Villa on a season-long loan deal during the transfer window and struck up an immediate rapport on the pitch with his friend Grealish, though Barkley is currently injured.
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Barkley, who celebrated his birthday on Saturday, is currently out of action with an injury
Grealish and Barkley reportedly traveled to London to party at a restaurant on Saturday
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