England stars are facing a double security bill while they are at the World Cup, for their mansions back home and their partners in Qatar.
Captain Harry Kane and his side, who face Italy tomorrow night in the Nations League, will be advised to hire extra security patrols after a spate of high-profile raids on footballers’ houses last season.
Operation Opal is a national UK intelligence unit that deals with serious organised acquisitive crime.
In February, its lead officer, Supt Carl Williams, said that there had “definitely been an increase” in Premier League stars being burgled in the past 10 years.
The raids included two unnamed England players whose homes were targeted during last year’s Euros.
Man Utd star Victor Lindelof’s wife Maja and their two children had to lock themselves in a panic room as burglars ransacked their Manchester home earlier this year.
Manchester City ace Joao Cancelo was also targeted in December.
The Portuguese international was attacked by a gang of robbers in front of his wife and baby at their home, also in the city’s suburbs.
Last September, a crew of burglars were caught on video breaking into the London home of England and Chelsea star Reece James.
They dragged out a safe containing his Champions League winners medal and Euro 2020 runners-up medal.
Many of the wives and girlfriends of England’s stars are set to stay on a cruise ship during November’s tournament so they can have a drink without worrying about the country’s strict alcohol bans. Only hotels, restaurants and bars are licensed to sell it and drinking in public is a crime.
The WAGs are likely to require extra private security when they go out and about in Qatar.
But their wives and girlfriends will take advantage of the “party” planned for the tournament. They were offered a series of villa and hotel options, but many opted for the floating hotel.
Kane’s wife Katie Goodland, 29, Jordan Henderson’s partner Rebecca Burnett, 32, and Raheem Sterling’s fiancee
Paige Milian, 26, seem sure to take the cruise option.
Drinking rules are expected to be slightly relaxed during the tournament, with organisers working on making it easier for fans to purchase booze.
Gareth Southgate’s squad are due to stay at the five-star Souq Al Wakra beach resort, built in 2015. It is a dry hotel that only serves non-alcoholic drinks.
Southgate has a relaxed attitude towards players seeing loved ones and encouraged it at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
The FA does not comment on security issues.
