---
title: "West Ham should punish Rice for playing football with Mount"
canonical: "https://readwestham.com/2020/03/16/west-ham-should-punish-rice-for-playing-football-with-mount/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Abdullah Mulla"
section: "Feature Writers"
published: "2020-03-16T21:00:49Z"
modified: "2020-03-16T21:00:49Z"
---

# West Ham should punish Rice for playing football with Mount

West Ham United’s Declan Rice [was pictured](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/coronavirus-chelsea-fury-mason-mount-21698302) playing football at a park with Chelsea star Mason Mount on the weekend and we believe the club needs to take action.

Mount was supposed to [remain in self-isolation](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/coronavirus-callum-hudson-odoi-chelsea-latest-arteta-a9398981.html) after teammate Callum Hudson-Odoi [tested positive](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/coronavirus-callum-hudson-odoi-chelsea-latest-arteta-a9398981.html) last week for the virus which has been causing global havoc in recent weeks.

However, as reported on [The Mirror](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/coronavirus-chelsea-fury-mason-mount-21698302), the playmaker ignored the government guidelines to meet up with Rice and their friends for a small-sided match at the Trent Park Football centre near Barnet.

West Ham’s squad have not been advised to remain in isolation yet, but Rice’s decision could impact the lives of those closest to him, including his teammates.

The defensive midfielder is a [close friend of Mount](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/nov/29/mason-mount-declan-rice-chelsea-west-ham-england-childhood-friends), but we still feel he should not have taken the risk of meeting him. If Rice then goes to meet some of his West Ham teammates, his family members or people from the general public, the risk of the virus spreading is heightened.

As stated in [The Mirror](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/coronavirus-chelsea-fury-mason-mount-21698302), the Hammers insist that Rice has done nothing wrong, but by meeting with a player who has been close to someone who has tested positive for the virus, we feel it was a risk that wasn’t worth taking.

We believe that senior figures at the Hammers should have a quiet word with Rice, similar to how Chelsea have reminded Mount of his responsibilities ([BBC Sport](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/51910780)).