Covid-19 Rules: Eberechi Eze may get double hammer

Nigeria born Crystal Palace forward Ebrechi Eze may face both FA and club hammer unless apology offered by

Queen Park Rangers is accepted as error of judgement and allowed to slip.

Indications to this effect emerged Monday after Palace issued a statement in reaction to   photos of Eberechi watching his former club QPR in action without mask and in contravention of the Covid-19 guidelines.

The FA have launched a probe after Eze was spotted back at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium on Saturday, sparking controversy amid the new national lockdown measures in place with coronavirus cases soaring within the UK.

QPR boss Mark Warburton admitted that the club made a mistake by allowing Eze to return to watch his former side – whom he played for between 2016 and 2020 – in action.

Warburton said: ‘Yes, absolutely, I understand why there is [upset and anger] because we know the situation society is facing in this country. We are all very aware of it.

‘On this occasion we should have declined the request, simple as that. We made the error and know that. Ebere is an outstanding character. I cannot speak highly enough of Eberechi Eze in terms of his character.

Palace on their part wrote late on Monday afternoon: ‘QPR have acknowledged they made a mistake in hosting Eberechi Eze in the directors’ box at Saturday’s FA Cup match against Fulham without our knowledge.

‘Whilst we recognize Eberechi’s desire to support his former team mates, he accepts it was an error of judgement to attend the match.

Read AlsoEberechi Eze beaming after Crystal Palace stunner

‘We were also concerned to see pictures of Eberechi not wearing a mask at certain moments and are speaking to him about these apparent lapses, which will be dealt with internally.’

The 22-year-old joined Palace from QPR in the summer for £19.5m and returned to see their 2-0 defeat having played against Wolves on Friday night.