EFL-banned from eating as a group at hotels

Football clubs may use a loophole in Covid-19 rules to ensure they can have team meals at hotels during lockdown.

As Sportsmail revealed on Wednesday, clubs were frustrated after being banned from eating as a group at hotels until December 2.

However, the Premier League and EFL have informed their members that classifying team meals as business meetings could provide a way around the Covid-19 restrictions on away trips

Elite sports teams could then meet in a private room and be served food, even while hotel bars and restaurants are closed.

Clubs now face a scramble to find external caterers who are still working during lockdown.

An official at one Championship side said: ‘It’s all a bit silly. We’re going to make sure we have flipcharts and ringbinders on our next trip, in case anyone starts asking questions.