Redknapp won't tolerate raucous football Christmas parties

September 10, 2010

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has said the often raucous drinking culture among British footballers – exemplified in a number of notorious Christmas party transgressions – must come to an end.

Redknapp spoke sternly on the matter in the wake of the allegations of infidelity against Wayne Rooney this week, which dated back to an ad hoc Christmas party thrown by Manchester United players last year.

The renowned manager – who is one of the frontrunners to take on the England managerial role when Fabio Capello leaves – said British players should follow the example set by their far cleaner-living continental counterparts.

"There is one main problem – it's called drink," said Redknapp yesterday. "Ninety per cent of the time these things don't happen unless players have a drink. We've all drunk – I've had a drink all my life, but these lads know that you can't do it any more. It's another world now."

The manager was furious at his players last Christmas after discovering that they had organised an unofficial celebration against his express wishes. Speaking this week he emphasised that they should be prepared to make sacrifices if they want to serious about winning major international plaudits.

He also cited the Manchester United trio of Gary Neville, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs, as shining examples of three current players who have had particularly long and successful careers largely in part to their clean living and care of their fitness.