Ferdinand calls for MI5 to "debug" England team's hotel for World Cup

The London News.Net
Sunday 14th March, 2010 (ANI)

England skipper Rio Ferdinand wants to call in UK's security agency, MI5, after it was revealed that mischief-makers had managed to tape conversations between players during their team meeting the game against Egypt at Wembley on March 3.

An angry Ferdinand said their meeting room at the five-star Grove Hotel near Watford, England was "bugged", and following the incident he has ordered his players to have their hotel rooms cleared in South Africa.

"Our hotel was bugged. Someone tried to secretly tape what was being said during a meeting. I couldn't believe it," The Daily Star quoted Ferdinand, as saying.

"As soon as I found out I had my room swept. And I'll make sure mine and the rest of the players' rooms are cleared in South Africa. We're all baffled that someone is deliberately trying to disrupt our World Cup preparations and create a scandal," he added.

The secret six-hour tape is said to include jokes about the personal lives of disgraced former skipper John Terry and defender Ashley Cole.

It is also believed to have picked up discussions about team tactics and talk of World Cup bonuses. eanwhile, a senior security source revealed: "The England camp want to take no chances and have drafted in a specialist security service squad to mount the clean-up operation."

"All hotel rooms during upcoming friendlies will be thoroughly swept for bugs - that includes any conference rooms. Consultations have taken place with the Government over getting help from MI5 after it was suggested by the team - Rio included."

"They're also thinking about having training ground facilities and even dressing rooms on match days swept although permission would have to be granted from FIFA first," the source added. (ANI)

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