Manchester City have expressed their "disappointment" and said they will conduct an investigation after Benjamin Mendy broke coronavirus regulations and invited friends to a party at his house on New Year's Eve.
Mendy invited two friends and a chef to celebrate the new year at his home in breach of government regulations which prohibit households from mixing indoors, according to The Sun.
The 26-year-old's transgression comes while City battle an outbreak of the virus within their squad, with their trip to play Everton last Monday postponed due to an increase in positive tests.
Pep Guardiola is set to be without five first-team players for Sunday afternoon's Premier League meeting with Chelsea.
A City spokesperson said: “The club is aware of a New Year's Eve Covid-19 breach involving Benjamin Mendy and the subsequent media reporting of it.
“While it is understood that elements of this incident have been misinterpreted in the reports, and that the player has publicly apologised for his error, the club is disappointed to learn of the transgression and will be conducting an internal investigation.”
A spokesperson for Mendy told The Sun: “Benjamin and his partner allowed a chef and two friends of his partner to attend his property for a dinner party on New Year's Eve.
“Ben accepts that this is a breach of Covid-19 protocols and is sorry for his actions in this matter. Ben has had a Covid test and is liaising with Manchester City about this.”
Mendy is the latest Premier League player found to have broken rules on household mixing after Tottenham trio Sergio Reguilon, Giovanni Lo Celso and Erik Lamela joined West Ham’s Manuel Lanzini at a house party over Christmas.
