The Manchester City skipper, Yaya Toure, has been banned from driving for 18 months and fined £54,000 (about 20 million Naira) for drink driving, he informed us on his Facebook page this morning with other stories.
Yaya Toure has issued the following statement:
“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.
“The matter has now been resolved in court on Monday. As I was above the permitted limit when tested on the night, I decided not to challenge the charge. 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 apologise for this situation. I would also like to thank my family, the management and staff at Manchester City, my legal team and the fans for the support they have given me during this difficult time.”
Toure is a four-time African player of the Year and a member of the Ivory Coast side that won the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, a Muslim by faith who currently plight his football trade in England .