Tammy Abraham has become the first England player to publicly declare he has been vaccinated.
It comes amid a growing row over players refusing to take the Covid jab or even admit they have had the vaccination.
England’s medical staff spoke to the players this week about coronavirus protocols and several stars in Gareth Southgate’s squad are believed to have refused to take the jab.
The knock-on effect has huge implications for football with overseas trips and the Government’s push to get elite athletes jabbed is clearly not working.
It comes after West Brom’s Republic of Ireland star Callum Robinson caused a storm by revealing that he has not had the vaccination despite twice being laid low by the virus.
England’s Roma striker Abraham, who had the virus last year, said: “It is a personal choice. People are entitled to do what they want to do with their bodies. For me it was a different situation. I am vaccinated. That is a personal choice.
“I have contracted the virus before, I am in Italy and for me it is the right thing to do. Everyone is entitled to do what they want to do and what is personal to them. They should make the decision to what they want to do.”
Robinson put renewed focus on the vaccination debate by going public as Premier League clubs as well as national associations struggle to get all players signed up.
Robinson said: “Everyone has their choice on what they want to do. I wouldn't force people to do it. It's your choice and your body."
The Football Association of Ireland insisted it has urged all players to get jabbed while England boss Southgate also publicly backed a vaccination programme.
But AC Milan defender Fikayo Tomori also refused to say whether he had been jabbed when quizzed at St George’s Park yesterday.
Tomori said: “If I want to do what I want to do then that is it or if another player wants to do that it is a personal issue not just for every athlete but for people who are not athletes. For me, it is a personal issue if I want to do it or a I don't want to do it, that is it.”
