Chelsea forward Tammy Abraham has apologised for after a surprise birthday party which was organised on his behalf on Saturday apparently breached coronavirus guidelines.

The England striker turned 23 on Friday and according to him, did not know his family and friends planned a surprise birthday, which was also attended by fellow England stars Jadon Sancho and Ben Chilwell.

Leaked photos and videos from the party showed little use of face masks, putting others at risk, including his England teammates, at risk.

Reports revealed that the house party broke various COVID-19 restrictions, including the “rule of six”, which is punishable by a £10,000 fine. Abraham also faces sentencing in the court social media and public opinion.

Abraham said: “On Saturday evening I arrived home to find a small surprise gathering had been organised for me with family and close friends to celebrate my birthday.

“Although I was totally unaware this was planned, I would like to wholeheartedly apologise for the naivety shown by all for the organisation and attending of this gathering.

“I recognise I have a responsibility both in my professional and personal life to honour and respect the guidelines and deeply regret that this took place. All I can do is learn from it, apologise to everyone and ensure it never happens again.”