Rangers manager Steven Gerrard says he feels “let down” after five members of his squad were found to have broken Scotland’s lockdown restrictions.
The club launched an internal investigation on Sunday after squad members were accused of breaking the restrictions – they have since been named as Bongani Zungu, Nathan Patterson, Calvin Bassey, Dapo Mebude and Brian Kinnear.
Steven Gerrard ‘Let Down’ By Rangers Players Who Broke Covid Rules
Bongani Zungu, Nathan Patterson, Calvin Bassey, Dapo Mebude and Brian Kinnear are self-isolating after breaching Covid regulations.
Rangers manager Steven Gerrard says he feels “let down”. #bbcfootball
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) February 17, 2021
‘Personally Let Down By Recent Events’
The news is hardly ideal preparation for Rangers as they gear up for the first leg of their Europa League round of 32 tie against Royal Antwerp.
However, Gerrard, despite his disappointment, is putting his full focus on the game and will deal with the players once they have come out of self-isolation.
He told Rangers TV: “First and foremost we have to acknowledge that five of our players have been involved in a breach of Covid regulations which from the top of the club to the bottom, we are all really disappointed in.
“That will be dealt with internally. Bongani Zungu is involved, Nathan Patterson, Calvin Bassey, Dapo Mebude, who is obviously part of the academy on loan at Queen of the South, and Brian Kinnear, a young goalie who is an academy player who has spent some time around the first team as well.
“They have been removed from the club and the squad for now on a short-time basis while they isolate. I will sit down with them boys face-to-face when we are allowed to do so.
“I feel personally let down by recent events but I am trying to move forward and focus on the important things which is to prepare the team ready for a huge game against Antwerp.”
Not the First Incident
Unfortunately for Rangers, this isn’t the first Covid-related incident they have had.
Three months ago, Jordan Jones and George Edmundson were suspended for two weeks after they attended an illegal house party. The Scottish Football Association also handed them seven-match bans.
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