Dancing On Ice's Rebekah Vardy slams partying footballers for breaking COVID rules

Rebekah Vardy has called out partying footballers for breaking COVID rules, saying they need to set an example to fans.

The Dancing On Ice contestant is married to Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy, but vented her anger about some of his peers who had been breaking lockdown rules.

She told The Sun: “I think it’s a privilege to be in the position that they find themselves in. Yes, they work hard, but at the same time they need to set an example.

“It’s not going to go down well with Joe Bloggs if a footballer is having a lockdown party and off seeing his mates, while he can’t see his family.

“I think the behaviour of certain people has not shone football in a good light.”

A number of Premier League footballers were caught out breaking COVID restrictions over the festive period and 36 players have tested positive in the last week.

But Vardy added that there were plenty of players abiding by the rules, including international footballers who have been separated from their families for months.

Mum-of-five Vardy said that her own husband was busy with homeschooling, praising him for his intelligence and skill at teaching their children.

Claiming that Jamie had “the most incredible mathematical brain”, she said he had been focusing on algebra and square roots, showing that he wasn’t just good at football.

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Vardy will take part in this year’s series of Dancing On Ice which launches on Sunday and will be skating with pro partner Andy Buchanan.

She admitted to being “petrified” of her first performance on the ice, and predicted that she would be the most likely contestant to suffer a “big blunder”.

Watch: Rebekah Vardy wins first round in ‘Wagatha Christie’ libel battle