Why members of the England football team aren't allowed to eat at Starbucks

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Why members of the England football team aren't allowed to eat at Starbucks

England team

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The England national team.

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  • England players are currently training at the National Football Centre to prepare for upcoming international friendlies against the Netherlands and Italy.
  • But if the players take a break and visit the local Starbucks just outside the training ground, they'll find themselves in hot water.
  • This is because England boss Gareth Southgate has banned them from eating the food items on the Starbucks menu.

England national team manager Gareth Southgate has taken extraordinary measures to ensure his soccer players stay fit and healthy ahead of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Southgate is currently training his England players at the National Football Centre at St George's Park ahead of international friendlies against the Netherlands on March 23 and Italy on March 27.

But if Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy, Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Dele Alli, or Manchester City defender Kyle Walker want to take a timeout and visit the Starbucks nearby, they'll find themselves in hot water.

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Southgate has introduced a ban on Starbucks sandwiches, cakes, and sweet treats, according to ESPN.

"Starbucks are not allowed to serve food in the cafe while the players are staying at the hotel," an ESPN source said.

Players are permitted to order tea or coffee, but sweeteners and syrups are strictly prohibited.

Southgate is not the only manager to take things off the menu for his players. Previous England manager Fabio Capello could not get his head around the obsession some former England stars had with tomato ketchup and French fries - so he banned both.

"I have impressed upon (the players) the advantages of a Mediterranean diet over ketchup and chips," Capello told the FIFA magazine in 2002, according to the BBC.

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