Strange but funny reason why England and Sweden players won’t shake hands today

Opposition players shaking hands is something you see on football pitches up and down the country at every level of the game.

But the England team will not be showing respect in this way from now on in the World Cup in Russia, according to an exclusive report by iNews.

It has been reported that squad players will bump fists with each other instead, in a bid to reduce the chance of exchanging germs.

The medical team, led by team doctor Robin Chakrabarty, has suggested the change to Gareth Southgate and the England team on the back of research at the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences at Aberystwyth University.

Research shows that handshakes are 20 times more unhygienic than fist bumps.

It is hoped that the incentive will prevent the spread of virus and illness - or at least reduce the chance of important members of the first team getting sick.

It is perhaps a little over the top, considering the length of the tournament, but it shows how seriously the Three Lions are taking it.

England are in action on Saturday afternoon when they take on Sweden in the quarter-final of the World Cup.