Stan Collymore Calls For Ban On Alcohol For All Footballers After Jack Grealish Criticism

Stan Collymore has called for a ban on footballers drinking alcohol, in the wake of his criticism of Jack Grealish's 'partying' over the summer break.

Grealish has understandably been enjoying himself this summer, following the end of his first season as Manchester City's, and English football's, most expensive ever player.

The former Aston Villa captain won the league title with his new club and started celebrating straight away on the bus tour of Manchester and then went off to celebrate in Ibiza, something he defended himself from after criticism.

After then playing in England's Nations League games, the 26-year-old took himself off to Las Vegas, ahead of a weird season that will stop part way through for the World Cup.

His continued drinking in Vegas and Collymore criticised his lifestyle choices, claiming the England star could become the 'next Gazza.'

There has been plenty defending Grealish from the former Liverpool striker's comments but he's not backing down, calling the defence of the City man 'appalling,' and calling for all players to be banned from drinking alcohol.

"The reaction to the article I wrote about Jack Grealish last week has been massive, with many agreeing he needs to curb his partying ways to ­ensure he gets the most out of his talent – but plenty ­disagreeing as well," the retired player wrote in his Mirror column.

"I’ve actually been appalled by the number of pundits, ­professionals, former ­professionals and ­supporters who fell into the latter camp, and who have spent the past few days lapping up pictures of him partying in Las Vegas and cheering on Jack The Lad.

"I can guarantee him now that those same people will be the ones ­hammering him for being a lush when he has a dip in form.

"...I know the trauma I went through due to my own naivety in my playing days and I see the similarities. He needs to learn he’s not just Jack from Brum any more, he’s public property, and that’s why my message remains, 'Please, kid, change tack and take it from me that the ‘prize’ of what you’re doing isn’t good.'

"I’d be saying this to any player whose party-boy antics saw him ­regularly wind up on the front pages of newspapers and websites – and I hope soon he will heed my advice. As crazy as this will sound to ­non-sports people, I’d actually like to see football clubs outlawing the ­consumption of alcohol by players altogether.

"The science is clear – alcohol ­seriously decreases athletic ­performance, which is why Cristiano Ronaldo, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and James Milner steer clear. Doing so hasn’t done those three any harm, has it?

"Look, I get that in football, where the close season is short, the ­temptation to get hammered is strong even for those who drink almost ­nothing during the season. And it’s not easy for such as Grealish, Phil Foden or any number of young British players because ­having a ­skinful and letting your hair down is very much a part of our culture.

"But perhaps if football ­implemented a no-drinking rule it might just have a positive effect on our wider society. And if lorry drivers and machine operators are tested regularly for the levels of alcohol in their systems, why not do it with our footballers?

"The sport has unwritten rules about not riding motorbikes or participating in extreme sports, so why not throw drinking into the mix as well?

"Because, like drugs, alcohol is a toxin and if you even have a pint or two, particularly when you’re not used to it, it can be detrimental to your sleep, which, in turn, has a knock-on effect on performance."

It's not like Pep Guardiola would stand for Grealish's behaviour if it was going to negatively impact him on field that much, so perhaps Collymore, and anyone else, should trust the player and those around him.