Black Widow
05-12-2009, 06:24 PM
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has vowed to introduce an alcohol ban after Ledley King was arrested for an alleged assault outside a London nightclub.
Club captain King was arrested in the early hours of Sunday morning and questioned on suspicion of assaulting another man in Soho.
"I'll implement a strong rule next season that drinking is a no-no here," Redknapp told the Sun newspaper.
"Footballers should dedicate their lives to playing."
He added: "Footballers should not drink. You shouldn't put diesel in a Ferrari. I know it's hard but they are earning big money, they are role models to kids."
King has been bailed by police until mid-July while inquiries continue into the incident.
The 28-year-old defender has since apologised for the incident describing the evening "a night out with friends which went too far".
But Redknapp feels that an alcohol ban would prevent a repeat of the incident.
"We wouldn't get these problems if the players weren't drinking," he said.
"There's still too much of a drinking culture in English football but it's not as bad as it used to be.
"At Tottenham we do a lot with kids, a lot of them underprivileged.
"We have to set an example. Too much drinking goes on in this country. Too many people are not happy unless they have had a drink."
BBC Sport
Club captain King was arrested in the early hours of Sunday morning and questioned on suspicion of assaulting another man in Soho.
"I'll implement a strong rule next season that drinking is a no-no here," Redknapp told the Sun newspaper.
"Footballers should dedicate their lives to playing."
He added: "Footballers should not drink. You shouldn't put diesel in a Ferrari. I know it's hard but they are earning big money, they are role models to kids."
King has been bailed by police until mid-July while inquiries continue into the incident.
The 28-year-old defender has since apologised for the incident describing the evening "a night out with friends which went too far".
But Redknapp feels that an alcohol ban would prevent a repeat of the incident.
"We wouldn't get these problems if the players weren't drinking," he said.
"There's still too much of a drinking culture in English football but it's not as bad as it used to be.
"At Tottenham we do a lot with kids, a lot of them underprivileged.
"We have to set an example. Too much drinking goes on in this country. Too many people are not happy unless they have had a drink."
BBC Sport