England footballers Phil Foden and Mason Greenwood were sent after they broke coronavirus guidelines in terms of a secure bubble. According to reports, both the players, in a video surfaced online, were seen in female company. England football team’s coach Gareth Southgate branded his players as “naive”.

Although England manager Southgate refused to comment on the nature of the virus protocol breach, widespread media reports said the England pair left the bio-secure bubble to meet two local girls during their time in Iceland.

England is due to play Denmark in Tuesday’s Nations League clash.

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Foden, 20, and Greenwood, 18, had made their senior England debuts in Saturday’s 1-0 win against Iceland, but the pair will have to travel home separately from the rest of the squad.

“Unfortunately this morning it was brought to my attention that the two boys have broken the Covid guidelines in terms of our secure bubble,” Southgate told reporters.

“We had to decide they couldn’t have interaction with the rest of the team and wouldn’t be able to train. Given the procedures we have to follow now, they will have to travel back to England separately,” Southgate added.

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Commenting on the incident, the Football Association said, “While they did not leave the team hotel, it was an unacceptable breach of our protocol. They have both apologised for their serious lack of judgment. The FA will be launching a full investigation into the circumstances leading up this breach,” the Football Association said.

“We have spoken to the Football Association of Iceland to offer our apologies. We have also assured the Danish Football Union that all other players and staff members have been isolated within our group throughout this period,” it added.

Iceland’s chief epidemiologist Thorolfur Gudnason told a press briefing that it was “a serious violation of the quarantine rules”.

The Icelandic police said they had launched an investigation into the breach of protocol.

Acknowledging their antics were unacceptable given the current global concern about the coronavirus, Southgate said: “It is a very serious situation and we have treated it that way. They have been naive and we have dealt with it appropriately.

“We are not underestimating how important it is we keep the bubble the way we have.”

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Southgate said both players had apologised for their behaviour, but conceded they should have acted more responsibly.

“I recognise their age, but of course, the whole world is dealing with this pandemic and there is a responsibility on all ages that they do their part,” he said.

“These are two boys I don’t know particularly well at the moment so I cannot speak in great depth. I’ve got to try to speak with them later in the appropriate way.

“They have apologised but everything has happened so quickly and we have to get to the facts.”

Manchester City labelled Foden’s actions “totally inappropriate” and called his behaviour “well below the standard expected of a Manchester City player”.

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Manchester United said of Greenwood: “We are liaising with the Football Association and are disappointed with the actions of Mason Greenwood over this situation.”

The controversy was the last thing Southgate needed after he had to withdraw Harry Maguire from the squad following the Manchester United defender’s part in a brawl during a holiday in Greece.

Maguire was handed a suspended prison sentence and is appealing the verdict.

“All management roles are difficult and this is another level, in terms of what you have to deal and what is expected,” Southgate said.