England football players 'banned' from eating two common foods before matches
We go again LADs, The Three Lions are scheduled to take to the pitch in Miami tonight (11 July) as they face Norway in the quarter-finals.
Set to kick off at 10pm, we’ve still got several hours to kill while we wait for the World Cup fixture. Well, that’s if it’s not delayed to any later due to the weather forecast over in Florida.
And you might already be working through a little fuelling plan to get yourself through the match as a fan. You know, because we put pretty much the same level of shift in as the players.
But when the England lot are fuelling up before matches, there’s apparently two common foods that they’re ‘banned’ from eating in the build-up.
Advert
Also known as the ‘Football Feeder’, Jonny Marsh is a chef that’s cooked for about 100 Premier League players including Three Lions goalie Jordan Pickford.
And he told Betway that there some popular condiments that are avoided by players before a match.
“A few years ago things like ketchup and mayonnaise were pretty much cut out in a lot of setups, not just with England but across the Premier League too,” Marsh explained.
“It wasn’t really a single manager’s rule, more a general shift in how clubs approached nutrition. It was mainly down to them being high in sugar and fats, so players were encouraged to avoid them with meals.”
Meanwhile he reckons the need to stay hydrated will also be getting factored into the England players’ nutrition plans.
Yep, not only is it the ‘hydration breaks’ but probably hydrating snacks and fluids to match.
“I expect hydrating ingredients like watercress and cucumber to feature in salads they are eating. Players will also be taking hydration sachets throughout the day, along with fresh juices made from melon, beetroot, oranges and lemons to help maintain fluid balance.”
While ketchup and mayo may be ‘banned’ from meals in the build-up to matches, that doesn’t mean the players get the ‘occasional cheat meal’ like pizza or fried chicken in the dressing room.
“Post-match it’s all about hydration and refuelling. Players will usually eat fairly quickly after the game to top up on energy stores, especially in hot conditions,” the Football Feeder added.
However, during tournaments he says the players do tend to keep things ‘a bit more controlled’ until the later stages regarding those ‘cheat meals’.
Well, let’s hope the LADs get to tuck into something yum after defeating Norway tonight!
New rules for the FIFA World Cup 2026
This year, there’s been a whole host of rule changes, many of which are designed to speed up the game and penalise players who drag things out. Some of the new regulations are likely to prove controversial.
10-second substitution
Subbed players now have to get a move on and leave the pitch within ten seconds by the nearest exit point. If they haven’t, their replacement will get held up by one minute until the next stoppage of play, and until then, their side will have to play with 10 men.
5-second throw-ins and goal kicks
If a referee thinks a player is taking too long for a throw-in or goal kick, they’ll start a five-second countdown, by which time the ball needs to be back in play. If it’s not, for throw-ins the opposing team will get their own throw-in, or for a goal kick the other side gets a corner.
Injured players to remain off the pitch for one minute
An injured player treated by medical staff off-field has to stay off the pitch for one minute, leaving their side with just 10 players.
More VAR
VAR can now be used to review an incorrectly awarded corner kick; second yellow cards resulting in a red card; when a player is incorrectly awarded a yellow or red card for another player’s actions; and any attacking fouls that occur before the ball is in play.
Players can’t cover their mouths
Players who cover their mouths in confrontational situations will be handed a red card. It’s believed players might cover their mouths to guard against lip readers while racially abusing other players, which some suspect has happened in the past.
Red cards for players leaving the pitch
Any player who leaves the pitch in protest over a referee’s decision will be handed a red card, and if a team walks off and causes a match to be abandoned, they’ll forfeit the game.
Topics: World Cup, Football, Food And Drink
Jess Battison