Players ignore stern warnings not to hug or swap shirts

Players ignore stern warnings not to hug or swap shirts amid rising Covid-19 cases as FA Cup goals lead to jubilant celebrations

• Scores of players ignored stern warning not to hug or swap shirts this weekend 
• The PFA sent their members a reminder urging them to reign in their emotions
• But there were jubilant celebrations in several FA Cup ties this weekend 

FA Cup magic was alive and well on Saturday but the excitement saw scores of players ignore stern warnings not to hug or swap shirts amid rising Covid-19 cases in English football.

Huge shocks led to jubilant celebrations across the country as Chorley knocked out Derby County to reach the fourth round for the first time while Blackpool defeated Premier League side on penalties.

It is hard to blame the players for wanting to celebrate defining moments in their careers however the Professional Footballers Association had sent all their members a reminder urging them to reign in their emotions.

FA Cup matches saw scores of players ignore stern warnings not to hug or swap shirts amid rising Covid-19 cases

There were jubilant celebrations as League One Blackpool knocked out West Brom

It comes as the Premier League have introduced ‘compliance officers’ to enforce their crackdown on hugging and handshakes and will now ‘apply a more robust policy to reporting any breaches’, according to a letter sent to all 20 clubs last week.

The letter stated: ‘Players, managers and coaching staff should avoid unnecessary contact at all times, particularly between opposition clubs, including handshakes and hugging. 

‘This includes post-match when players are leaving the field of play or the stadium’.

Aston Villa’s Louis Barry swapped shirts with Liverpool’s Fabinho following his goal

Aston Villa youngster Louis Barry swapped shirts with Fabinho following his goal in his side’s defeat to Liverpool.

Southampton’s third-round tie versus Shrewsbury was called off due to a significant number of positive tests at the League One side while Villa were forced to field a team of kids against Liverpool due a Covid outbreak at the West Midlands club.

Four top-flight games have already been postponed due to rising covid cases with more than 50 across the league being called off.

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