Premier League footballers have been urged not to set a bad example to the public by breaking lockdown rules to get their hair cut.

Newcastle striker Joelinton has been fined £200 for breaching Covid-19 regulations after he posted a photo of himself getting a haircut on Instagram last week.

The post was investigated by Northumbria Police who then issued the fine, while North Tyneside Council confirmed it had issued a prohibition notice to the barber.

“The rules are there, they are there for a reason and we all have to accept them.

“One of the things that has come back to us is that people find it soul-destroying that they are complying to the rules, in the case of hairdressers many of them have been shut for five months and are seeing real financial hardship, and it really upsets them to see people who they think might be breaking the rules.

“I think from a PR perspective certainly it might help if they say ‘I cut my own hair’ or ‘someone cut my hair for me from within my bubble’ – but ultimately we all know what the rules are and we should all stick to our responsibilities.”