Empire States Blog

YAYA TOURE FINED, BANNED FOR 18 MONTHS AFTER ACCEPTING DRINK-DRIVING CHARGE

                                                          

                  Yaya Toure has been fined and banned for 18 months after accepting drink-driving charge

The 33-year-old midfielder accepts he was "above the permitted limit", and did not challenge the charge.

The four-time African player of the Year and a member of the Ivory Coast side that won the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations wrote on his Facebook page: “Over the last two weeks there has been some confusion as to why I was charged with drink driving, as it is well known that I am a Muslim and do not drink.

“I have always refused alcohol. Anyone who knows me or follows football will have seen me refuse champagne for Man of the Match performances because of my commitment to my religion.

“However, it was important to me that I told the court that I had not intentionally consumed alcohol. The judge in his sentencing remarks accepted that I had not been intentionally drinking.

“Drink driving is a serious crime and even though I was not intentionally consuming alcohol I accept the ban and fine and I would like to apologised for this situation.”

However, Man City manager Pep Guardiola has made it clear that Toure's place in the squad would not be under threat as he had explained situation to the club.

"I spoke with him about the issue, he gave me his reasons," Guardiola said.

He added: "I trust him, so no, I take decisions based on what I see on the pitch and his behaviour. I said this before I played him against Crystal Palace.

"He is part of the team because he is training good and he is fit."

Barkingside Magistrates Court said Toure had an alcohol reading of 75 micrograms per 100 millilitres of breath - more than twice England's legal limit of 35 micrograms.

He pleaded guilty to the charge on Monday, December 12, but did not say how the alcohol got into his system.

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