MID Worcestershire's MP has added his voice to the criticism of footballers' behaviour during the second wave of the pandemic.

Professional sport was given the go-ahead by the government to continue in the current national lockdown, until the elite sport exemption.

But the Football Association has now asked clubs to observe Covid protocols not only as they are written, but to subscribe to their spirit.

Trevor Birch, the EFL’s chief executive, has said players were "under the microscope" as never before, and the Premier League has written to its clubs making it clear that hugging after goals and hand shakes before and after matched were banned.

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Those interventions happened after players were regularly seen celebrating goals without following social distancing guidelines, and images circulated on social media of hugging and singing in dressing rooms after recent matches.

A number of games have been postponed this season due to coronavirus, including Aston Villa's fixture this weekend due to an outbreak at their training ground.

Nigel Huddleston MP, who is a minister for sport, retweeted a story about the Premier League writing the letter to clubs, saying: "Everyone in the country has had to change the way they interact with people and ways of working.

"Footballers are no exception.

"Covid secure guidelines exist for football.

"Footballers must follow them and football authorities enforce them - strictly."

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola have defended players on celebrations saying emotions were difficult to control during a game.

Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder has said if the season was now suspended he didn't think it "would be a surprise".