Footballers and Christmas do not mix well. With training to consider and matches on Boxing Day an established tradition, players often have little time to celebrate over the festive period itself, but clubs’ efforts to stage their equivalent of the office party have led to a string of well-publicised mishaps.
Police yesterday launched an investigation into events at a Manchester hotel on Monday night where United players had gathered for their Christmas night out. It is the latest in a number of altercations and incidents involving clubs across the divisions. It has led teams increasingly to forgo pubs and nightclubs in favour of private venues or even to travel some distance away from their home supporters, but behaviour has often strayed towards the raucous or