Alan Curbishley manager of West Ham is one of a number of key figures to speak out on the issue of player parties. He believes that clubs should ban Christmas party gatherings as they put players at risk.

Rape allegations were levied following a Man U party last week. Christmas parties and controversy have gone hand-in-hand for some Premier League clubs over the last few years. With the spotlight on footballers on and off the pitch any slip up is almost guaranteed to make the headlines.

Goalkeeper Mark Bosnich has been in the spotlight himself but insists that most footballers behave responsibly.

"Footballers in general get a lot of bad publicity, some of it warranted but the majority is unwarranted, In general they are good boys.  They come from working-class backgrounds. There's a lot of jealousy about. People should also bear in mind that there are also organisations of people who send these people in to get the players into trouble.  I'm not making any judgments but this does go on. The bottom line is every situation is different. There are instances when footballers have done things wrong and they deserve to be punished. But there are extenuating circumstances and you have to look at the whole picture where people are sent in to get players into trouble."

Most Premiership stars do a great deal of good work in the community. Many are active patrons for charities. Yet the only news that makes the headlines is the mishaps.