Footballers told to stop drinking and partying

Football players with the former European Cup winners Red Star Belgrade have been blasted by their coach after enjoying too many beers and nights out.

The Belgrade team recently struggled to beat the Icelandic team IBV in the Europa League qualifying stages, and earn a stinging backlash from coach Slavisa Stojanovic as a result.

Local media reported that Stojanovic told his players: All the hard work you have done in the searing heat of pre-season build-ups will amount to nothing if you keep eating meat pies before practice and drinking two or three beers after it.

“You have to rest properly and adopt an athletes’ diet otherwise your careers will go down the drain.”

Serbian newspapers have published photographs of players enjoying Belgrade’s nightlife, with pictures of players drinking, smoking and staying out late appearing.

Red Star vice-president Nebojsa Covic added: “Cigarettes and nights out on boat-bars lined up along the river are also out of the question. A professional attitude means turning up for practice and raring to go an hour before it starts.”

The Daily Mail reported that in January defender Milan Jovanovic was sent home from mid-season training in the Turkish resort of Antalya after he was caught in an all-night drinking stupor. He parted company with the club by mutual consent just four months later.