Non league club suspend two players for what they did at service station

One particular non league club have chosen to suspend two of their players for what they did at a service station, according to reports.

The duo, from Oxford City, who sit 8th in the National League South table and a point behind the playoffs, have been removed from the squad for an alleged breach of Covid protocols at a service station.

They will now not be able to take part in their home fixture against 20th place Welling United on Saturday afternoon.

It comes after two team members were spotted not wearing masks at Beaconsfield Services ahead of the game on Tuesday evening.

City are now investigating the incident before taking any further action.

A club statement said: “Since the start of the pandemic, the football club has worked incredibly hard to ensure everyone is safe at training and on matchdays via strict protocols that we have in place.

“Everyone at the football club is reminded of our Covid-19 safe procedures on a regular basis and any breaches of the rules put in place to ensure public safety are disappointing.”

It comes in the same week that Oxford City’s neighbours Oxford United also suspended the same amount of player for breaking the rules.

The U’s, who currently sit 12th in the League One table, are investigating the breach of Covid protocols by the youngsters, one of whom plays for the Under 21s and the other for the Under 18s, after attending a party on New Year’s Eve.

There was reports claiming that senior figures at the club initially wanted the pair to be sacked, however that is apparently wide of the mark.

A club spokesman told The Athletic that a decision on the players’ futures will be taken as soon as possible.

The usually reliable The Athletic claimed if the pair were sacked, they would become the first British professional footballers to lose their jobs for breaching Covid rules.

A statement issued said: “Oxford United can confirm reports that two academy players are currently suspended while the club gathers all of the facts regarding an alleged breach of covid protocols.

“While the investigation is ongoing there will be no further comment from the club.”

Neither player is understood to have been close to the senior players since the alleged incident and that has shown as the squad tested negative.

Head coach Karl Robinson is confident his side wouldn’t have to postpone fixtures in the event of positive results, due to the U’s social distancing protocols.

It came after he told BBC Radio 4 last week that some clubs had become ‘sloppy’ when it came to following Covid rules and called for spot-checks to be stepped up.

‘We all have to tighten up and I think the spot-checks need to happen more regularly,’ he told the Today programme.

‘I don’t think they (the postponements) are through us all doing the right things.

‘I think there’s certain aspects of our football clubs that may be getting a little bit sloppy.

‘I can’t be 100 per cent sure, but I think there are certain clubs that are doing things slightly wrong.

‘I think there’s some clubs using gyms inside with too many players and how we change and travel to training.’

There have been 23 League One games called off due to coronavirus in the last three weeks, including United’s home game against Doncaster Rovers that had been scheduled for this week.

Oxford have seen five games called off so far this season after positive tests were returned among their opponents.

Read more on that by clicking HERE.

Users reacted as non league club Oxford City suspend two players for what they did at service station…

@hraarmstrong: Christ I’d love it if everyone who goes into a shop without a mask was suspended from their job. Might kick some sense into people

Know it all again!!: Sack them.

monkeynews: Get a life, we could all probably agree if this was a party or a blatant disregard. Sad state of affairs when somebody would sooner take a photograph than just remind somebody to pop their mask on

umpcah: Sad state of affairs when folk ignore the notices [ requests for masks to be worn in the shop area ] on the doors

HomerSimpsonDohDohDoh.: Not wearing a mask is a blatant disregard! Doh

Jim Bob Bobby: oh. Lots of people do it. You go to any shop and you’ll see plenty of people ignoring the rules. All should be punished, fines should be rolling in.

greentea9: Reminding them would mean needing to get close to someone without a mask indoors during a pandemic. Also it might have meant getting into a confrontation.

Oxon Resident: Fine them and sack them. What is it that footballers don’t understand. Are they really all this stupid.

DOXJ: I don’t think this is a race thing. So many white people are breaking the rules too. Everyone should follow the law and if they don’t the police should fine them. It is not hard wear a mask, keep 2m apart and don’t meet friends. The sooner people realise it is their fault and start to follow rules the sooner less people will die, 3rd day in a row over 1000 people dead.