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Löw lays down the law to Germany’s Euro squad

Germany's national football coach Joachim Löw has imposed a tough ground rules on his players in their quest to win Euro 2008 - late-night visits to discos and hotel room service are Verboten.

Löw lays down the law to Germany's Euro squad
Löw points the Alpine way for Ballack and co. Photo: dpa

Until the Bundesliga finishes in May, members of the Germany squad are banned from visiting discos or nightclubs on the eve of a league game as Löw demands discipline in the bid to win the European crown for the fourth time.

The German squad will also find the mini bar in their hotel rooms stripped of beer, wine and spirits with only sports drinks and water available. Players have been told room service is banned both in the team’s Euro 2008 training camp in Mallorca and in the team hotel at Ascona, Switzerland, during Euro 2008, between June 8-29.

“It’s about the relations between the national football team and the clubs,” said Germany team manager Oliver Bierhoff. “Anyone who is out until the early hours of the morning isn’t taking their job seriously.”

Hotel staff in both Mallorca and Ascona are under strict instructions not to provide room service to the players who will have their own personal chef for the duration of the tournament.

“Of course we trust the players. The mini bar is filled with fruit juices and water,” said Bierhof. “The players will have round the clock access to the best nutrition and a

balanced diet.”

Germany play Poland, Croatia and co-hosts Austria in their Euro 2008 pool.

RACISM

VIDEO: Spain’s La Liga reviews video of boy racially abusing Vinicius

Spain's La Liga on Monday said it was reviewing a video of a child making racist insults towards Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior during the 2-2 draw with Valencia at the weekend.

VIDEO: Spain's La Liga reviews video of boy racially abusing Vinicius

“We’re in the process of studying and analysing the facts from a legal standpoint to see what we can and should do,” La Liga sources said.

In a video published by a journalist for ESPN Brasil, and picked up by Spanish media, a boy sitting in a woman’s lap can be heard calling Vinicius a “monkey”.

The Brazilian scored twice for Madrid as his team recovered from two goals down at Mestalla on Saturday.

Vinicius raised his fist in a “Black Power” salute after the first of his two goals at a ground where he was racially abused last season. Valencia subsequently banned three people from the stadium for life.

The 23-year-old has become a symbol of the fight against discrimination in Spanish football after suffering racist abuse on many occasions, and he was jeered repeatedly by home supporters on Saturday.

Jude Bellingham was sent off after the final whistle against Valencia for protesting after the referee blew the final whistle right before the England midfielder headed home what he thought was the winning goal.

READ ALSO: Football star Vinicius highlights racist behaviour from Spanish fans

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