Many West Ham United fans have turned on playmaker Manuel Lanzini over his Covid rule breaking at Christmas.
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Lanzini apologised on social media yesterday after national newspaper reports exposed him and several Tottenham Hotspur stars for a breach of Covid-19 rules over Christmas.
The Argentine has just started returning to something like his best form and fitness for West Ham of late after two years out of sorts.
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But he was pictured at a gathering alongside Tottenham trio Erik Lamela, Giovani Lo Celso and Sergio Reguilon in a photo that circulated across social media on Saturday.
Lanzini has played against Brighton, Southampton and Everton since Christmas potentially putting those sides at risk as well as his own teammates.
The midfielder offered an apology online after the article broke.
“I want to apologise for a bad mistake I made over Christmas and I take full responsibility for my actions,” Lanzini said on Twitter.
“I know people have made difficult sacrifices to stay safe and I should be setting a better example.”
West Ham have ‘reminded player of his responsibilities’
West Ham issued a statement to The Daily Mail in response to their story on Lanzini and said the matter would be dealt with internally.
“The club has set the highest possible standards with its protocols and measures relating to COVID-19 so we are disappointed to learn of Manuel Lanzini’s actions.
“The matter has been dealt with internally and Manuel has been strongly reminded of his responsibilities.”
But many West Ham fans – who, like millions across the country, were forced to spend Christmas apart from loved ones – were in unforgiving mood following Lanzini’s apology.
A large section of Hammers fans on Twitter reacted angrily to Lanzini’s apology and feel the player must be severely punished.
Some even want Lanzini banished or sold as a result of his actions.
Others feel his apology and a club fine should be the end of the matter.
Here are a selection of reactions from fans to Lanzini’s apology on Twitter.
