English footballers have created a band of ‘Friends and Families (FAFs)’ to counter attack manager Fabio Capello’s carefully prepared plans to tackle the infamous WAGs from his side’s 2010 World Cup campaign in South Africa.
According to reports, several players have made provisional arrangements with a travel specialist to fly their wives, girlfriends and extended family to the finals.
When a player was asked if his inquiry was for WAGs accommodation, the travel specialist was told: “We don’t like to talk about WAGs any more, let’s just call it friends and family,” The Daily Express reported.
Earlier, Capello had laid down strict laws for WAGs, and he is determined that the team takes the World Cup seriously.
Capello decision came after England’s last trip to the World Cup finals had turned into a circus when the WAGs took over the picturesque town of Baden Baden in Germany. There were parties every night and the players were in almost daily contact with their loved ones.
He also insisted that his stars will not go to the tournament for a holiday, and warned their wives and girlfriends: “If you don’t like it, don’t come.”
Capello has ruled that his current squad can have just one day with their partners and families after each game next summer, and that will be the only socialising allowed.
Stars like Rio Ferdinand and Frank Lampard have admitted the WAGs’ presence affected the team under Sven Goran Eriksson in the 2006 World Cup, where Portugal won their quarterfinal on penalties.
