Yaya Toure
Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure said he had “not intentionally consumed alcohol” after admitting drink-driving.
The 33-year-old Ivory Coast international was banned from driving for 18 months and fined £54,000 after appearing at Barkingside Magistrates’ Court in East London on Monday.
The former Barcelona star was arrested in Dagenham on 28 November, and found to have 75 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath – more than twice the legal limit of 35 micrograms.
He did not explain how he had come to consume alcohol.
In a statement on his website on Tuesday, the footballer said he was not a drinker because of his faith.
He said: “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.”
Toure added: “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.”
When former teammate Joleon Lescott tried to give him a bottle of champagne after he was named man of the match following a game in 2012, Toure said: “I don’t drink because I’m Muslim – you keep it.”