The behaviour of footballers under the influence of alcohol was once again under public scrutiny after West Ham United admitted yesterday that a player was fined for urinating on a bar at one of London's leading nightspots during the club's Christmas party.
The player, who has not been named by the club but is believed to be one of its overseas internationals, stood on the bar at the Sugar Reef club and urinated in front of startled guests and staff.
The player was fined two weeks' wages while another player, believed to be in West Ham's reserve team, was criticised by the club after vomiting over tables and chairs at the same party.
About 18 West Ham players attended the Sugar Reef club on Tuesday night. Following the incident, security staff at the club asked them to leave. The footballers had run up a drinks bill of £1,800 sterling.
Following the trial of the Leeds United footballers Lee Bowyer and Jonathan Woodgate the spotlight has been on the public behaviour of footballers, particularly once they have drunk alcohol, and the game has been marred by a series of embarrassing incidents.
The West Ham manager Glenn Roeder claimed last night that the recent high-profile incidents involving drunken footballers reflected declining standards of behaviour in Britain. Roeder said: "I'm very disappointed. We live in a society where anything goes and it's sad.
"You see all sorts of people in back alleys and streets tiddling up walls and it's not acceptable. Footballers have a great responsibility because of their profile but in society we are at an all-time low." Roeder revealed that he had called a special meeting with his players before their Christmas party reminding them that they needed to behave properly and that seven bodyguards had accompanied them during their night out.
Roeder said: "What has disappointed me is that 24 or 25 boys have gone on a night out and one incident by one player has soured that night.
"The club did everything it could because we are aware and concerned there is not a very good profile for the game at the moment." Roeder said that the player who had been fined had apologised to the club and that the money would be given to charity.
"The West Ham manager also claimed that football as a whole had to now improve its image following incidents involving drunk footballers.
"I think football has now got to get its head down and get on with the football and players must take the responsibility that goes with being Premier League footballers."
In a spate of Christmas incidents, police have said that the Oldham Athletic striker Allan Smart was arrested earlier this week for allegedly attacking three men during the club's Christmas party. Police said that he had been arrested following allegations of assault, affray and criminal damage.
Police are investigating allegations of a "serious sexual nature" made against two members of Blackburn Rovers' staff. An alleged sex attack is reported to have taken place in the club's training centre following a Christmas party.
The Leeds striker Robbie Fowler was arrested following an incident after the club's Christmas party. He was later released without charge.
At First Division Manchester City, the manager Kevin Keegan has suspended the full-back Jeff Whitley for two weeks and fined the former England defender Steve Howey after he caught them drinking during the afternoon.