Drinking not widespread in game - Taylor

Players’ union boss Gordon Taylor today insisted the vast majority of footballers do not embark on the drinking binges described by bad boy Roy Keane.

The Manchester United powerhouse, who amazingly quit the Republic of Ireland camp days before the World Cup after a bust-up with boss Mick McCarthy, is poised to stir up more controversy with his explosive autobiography later this month.

In the book, Keane is expected to reveal all about his wild nights out with other Old Trafford superstars.

But Professional Footballers’ Association chief executive Taylor today leapt to his members’ defence and maintained football’s drinking culture – which flourished in the 1970s and 1980s – is in steep decline.

He told PA Sport: “It was a lot more widespread in the past than it is now, when there is a very different attitude to off-field behaviour.

“But it’s naive to think it doesn’t happen. Having a lot of fit young men, who all work in an intensive world, together on a night out can lead to them going off the rails.

“It’s the job of managers to keep it under control, as it’s damaging for the fitness of their players.

“And the whole business of drinking is being addressed by every manager I know. They’re saying ’don’t do it – full stop’.”

The PFA and the Football Association have also teamed up to stamp out alcohol problems developing in teenagers starting out on their careers.

“We keep warning players that all their work in training can be undone by half an hour away from the training ground,” added Taylor.

“And we work with the FA to educate scholarship players on alcohol and drug awareness. We also have special rehabilitation for any player with a problem.”