England’s wives and girlfriends will be provided with their own security detail by the FA at this summer’s World Cup in Russia.
A spokesperson for the governing body confirmed family members of coaching staff and players will be protected during their time at the tournament as part of the official FA delegation.
They have also been invited to make the journey with the FA’s official travel company.
Some players, Sportsmail understands, are also looking to hire private security guards to accompany their families amid rising fears.
But the FA have moved to provide Gareth Southgate and his players with peace of mind during the World Cup by extending their delegation to families for the first time since the infamous ‘WAGs’ circus at the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
The FA said details of their arrangements would be a closely guarded secret as part of their security measures and it remains unclear how many family members will travel to Russia.
But the operation will be complicated by the fact that some partners and family members will fly in and out of Russia for the games.
That said, the situation is unlikely to mirror what occurred in Baden-Baden 12 years ago when players’ families stayed in a five-star hotel a short journey from England’s base. They became the focus of the media glare and too much of a distraction for the squad, with Sven Goran Eriksson allowing his squad too much time at the WAGs’ hotel.
While Southgate wants a relaxed atmosphere in the England camp, the family members who do travel are expected to stay up to an hour’s drive away in St Petersburg, only going to the players’ base in Repino the day after England matches.