Roy Hodgson is to create a code of conduct that he expects his players to stick to during the European Championships. The FA will help him compile the document which will outline their expectations of the players along with the warning that anyone caught breaking it will be putting their England future in jeopardy.

Hodgson’s expectations were simple and clear enough. “Not only do I expect them to behave as adults, I am going to demand it.” He has pointed to the controversy that surrounded the England Rugby Union team on their recent World Cup campaign. A disappointing display on the field was made all the more frustrating by a series of incidents off the pitch.

England will be staying close to the centre of Krakow and Hodgson realises that his players are going to be coming into contact with members of the public on a regular basis and they will be under constant observation from fans of all competing nations. The 2010 World Cup saw England staying out in Rustenburg, two hours outside of the nearest major city of Johannesburg after criticisms of their behaviour in the more central base of Baden Baden in 2006 – Wayne Rooney‘s wife Colleen was blamed the most.

Hodgson has stressed that he does not intend to keep his players locked up or stop them from enjoying the experience of visiting a country that many of them will have not experienced before. He is stressing the importance of them behaving well when they are out and about, he is fully aware that people with camera phones will be everywhere, ready to capture any misdemeanours on camera to pass on to the world’s press.

Hodgson is keen to give his players freedom to enjoy themselves, to stay relaxed and to “see something else other than their room-mates, me and the coaching staff” during their down time. Captain Steven Gerrard agreed with the new code.