He was ‘Naive’ To Break Covid Protocols For QPR’s FA Cup Clash Against Fulham Attendance, Crystal Palace Boss Defends Eze
Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson believes Ebere Eze showed ‘naivety’ when he became the latest footballer to breach coronavirus protocols last weekend, but the playmaker is free to face Arsenal on Thursday.
The 22-year-old attended former club QPR’s FA Cup tie with Fulham on Saturday and failed to wear a mask at all times while at Loftus Road.
Eze was also not socially distanced, with just a seat between him and another person in the directors’ box.
A statement from Palace on Monday insisted they would deal with the matter internally, with the incident occurring a week after captain Luka Milivojevic was fined for mixing with Aleksandar Mitrovic and his family on New Year’s Eve.
“When he realised what he did – naively I must point out and without any malice – he was full of remorse, regret and wanted to take responsibility and apologise to everybody,” Hodgson said.
“Do I think the foolish thing Eberechi did merits that he should be left out of the team and punished in that way? I don’t.”
“I don’t think what he did would merit that type of punishment, but it does merit a fine because a slap on the wrist isn’t really enough.”
Palace were unaware the summer signing planned to return to his old stomping ground and QPR boss Mark Warburton conceded his club made an error in accepting Eze’s request to attend.
Hodgson added: ‘It was a lot of naivety on his part to think it was OK to do those things. It obviously isn’t and we are very upset and a bit disappointed too he wasn’t stopped from going and I know QPR have done well in that respect.
“They have taken responsibility because had we known he planned to do that, we would have stopped it.”
“He has apologised and will learn a harsh lesson from it.”
Eze will relish the focus being back on football this week and another player who signed in 2020 is close to agreeing a new deal at the club.
