Search icon

Football

02nd Nov 2018

Marco Verratti arrested for driving while ‘twice over the limit’ on ringroad

PSG star Marco Verratti was arrested on suspicion of drink driving by French police on a Paris ringroad in the early hours of Wednesday morning

Reuben Pinder

He was arrested in the early hours of Wednesday morning

Marco Verratti has been arrested on suspicion of drink driving, it has emerged. The Paris Saint-Germain midfielder was reportedly twice over the drink driving limit when French police stopped him on a Paris ringroad.

As reported by well respected French sports newspaper L’Equipe, the Italian was arrested in the early hours of Wednesday morning and was placed in a ‘sobering cell’ before he was allowed to leave the police station.

“On the night of October 30 to 31, Marco Verratti was subjected to a roadside check in his car, which showed a blood alcohol level higher than the limit allowed for drivers on probation after recently obtaining their driving license,” PSG said in a statement.

“The next day, our player made a spontaneous apology to the coach and the management of Paris Saint-Germain.

“Under the rules applicable to the contracts of all our players, Marco Verratti will be deprived of a portion of his monthly ethics bonus, which reminds players of the exemplary behaviour that must be theirs in all circumstances with regard to their status.”

PSG Thomas Tuchel dropped Verratti’s midfield partner Adrien Rabiot for poor punctuality last weekend for Le Classique against Marseille, but Rabiot could make his return to the side tonight if Verratti is not selected for PSG’s game vs Lille.

Kylian Mbappé is also set to return to the starting XI after being benched for the Marseille match, in which he scored a winner just two minutes after coming on from the bench.