England stars must quit the booze to avoid sleaze scandals, says Harry Redknapp

Harry Redknapp believes the time has come for England’s top stars to shun alcohol if they want to avoid sleaze.

Redknapp fears a generation of top-class talent is being plunged into scandal because of booze.

The Spurs boss had to remind three of his own players – Peter Crouch, Ledley King and David Bentley – of their responsibilities after drink-related incidents in the past year.

With the season barely weeks old, Crouch and Arsenal starlet Jack Wilshere have both been in the spotlight for the wrong reasons.

Wilshere was left out of England Under-21’s clash against Portugal last week because boss Stuart Pearce was convinced the youngster had lost his focus.

And Manchester United marksman Wayne Rooney faces a torrid time at Everton and opposition players and fans prepare to goad him about lurid revelations.

In addition a string of England players have taken out so-called super-injunctions to prevent details of their lives being made public.

Redknapp said: “There’s one common problem - I’ve said it all along. It’s called drink.

“These things don’t happen unless people have a drink 99% of the time.

“People have a drink, we all drink. We’ve all done it. I’m not sitting here saying I never have. Of course I have. I’ve liked to drink all my life.

“But these lads now, you can’t do it anymore. When I was playing, we used to do it. But it was different, now it’s another world. These days now, everyone’s got a camera.

“I’m the only person in the country who’s got a phone without a camera on it!”

Redknapp now believes players are paid well enough to sacrifice alcohol if they want to want to make a success of their careers.

He added: “I do. I do now definitely. They’ve got to, they’ve got to because, otherwise, you’re going to keep seeing these things all the time.

“Young players coming out fighting outside nightclubs or something? They shouldn’t be putting themselves in that position.

“If they dedicate themselves for 10 years, they come out of it with so much money, they never have to work again.

“They can live a fantastic life. They should dedicate themselves. They’ve got to be super-fit now.

“You don’t see too many foreign players (drinking), do you?

“And look at Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville. Fantastic. Great pros.

“They’re the ones they should look at, aren’t they? They should look at those lads.

“Why is Giggs playing so well at 30-whatever-he-is: 37 probably. He is still fit, still fantastic.

“You look at Italian players. Look at some of the greats.

“They’re 38, 39, 40 years of age, still playing Champions League football. Because they look after themselves so well.

“Maldini: what an example he is. What and incredible professional.

“You never read about him being drunk and disorderly, do you, falling over and fighting somewhere?”