Liverpool footballer Roberto Firmino has been banned from driving for a year and fined £20,000 after admitting drink-driving.
The Brazil international was driving his Range Rover at 3am on Christmas Eve when police pulled him over and gave him a breath test in Liverpool city centre.
Michael Hogan, defending, said the incident happened the day after the 25-year-old's family home was targeted by burglars who were "prepared to use extreme force".
The burglary had caused Firmino "considerable anxiety and distress", said Mr Hogan.
"He and his family were targeted by a group of criminals who were intent on breaking into his house and robbing them of their precious belongings," he said.
"In order that the police investigation into this serious crime is not compromised in any way, I don't propose to say much about it, but what I do say goes some way to explaining my client's state of mind the following day."
On the night of the offence, Firmino had been out for dinner in Hanover Street with his family and friends who were over from Brazil.
He had moved out of the house because of the burglary and was driving to a hotel when he took a wrong turn and briefly went on the wrong side of the road.
A breathalyser test showed he had a reading of 46 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath - above the legal limit of 35.
Firmino has scored 20 times for Liverpool in 74 appearances since moving to England.
He reportedly earns £100,000 a week following his £29m move from German side Hoffenheim in 2015.
In a statement issued after the hearing, the player said: "I apologise, without reservation, to the club, the manager, my teammates and the supporters for putting myself in this situation.
"What I have done is wrong and sets a bad example.
"I promise to everyone in the LFC family that I will learn from this mistake, learn from this experience, and not repeat it in the future."
Liverpool say they have disciplined the player, but he will still be available to play.
FOLLOW US ON:
> The Forefront on Twitter
>BBM Channel: C002CB006 {WELCOME TO THE FOREFRONT
>{Instagram: the_forefront_nigeria }
Connect with Joshua Osagie (Blog owner)
FOLLOW US ON:
> The Forefront on Twitter
>BBM Channel: C002CB006 {WELCOME TO THE FOREFRONT
>{Instagram: the_forefront_nigeria }
Connect with Joshua Osagie (Blog owner)
Share this post with others on social media with options below.
|
No comments:
Post a Comment
Disclaimer!!! Opinions expressed in comments do not represent THE FOREFRONT MEDIA NG's views. All participants are entitled to their opinions. Thank you!!!
Advertise on the Forefront: For advert placement in the blog or advert posts like news updates, reach +2348124620827 [WhatsApp].
Copyright 2023 The Forefront Media Ng. All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from The Forefront Media Ng