Leny Yoro, a defender for Manchester United, has found himself in the spotlight for the wrong reasons after being handed a six-month driving ban. The young French international was clocked speeding at over 70mph in a 30mph zone, driving his Porsche.
At just 20 years old, this incident serves as a rite of passage for Premier League footballers, marking him as the latest in a long line of players who have faced similar consequences for their driving behavior.
Let’s take a closer look at some notable instances in Premier League history where footballers faced the repercussions of their driving habits.
Darren Anderton
Starting off our list is Darren Anderton, who was known for his iconic curtain hairstyle back in the 90s.
Despite being thought of as one of the more sensible England players, Anderton found himself hit with a seven-day driving ban in the summer of 1997 for exceeding local speed limits, registering a jaw-dropping 102mph on the M27.
Man Utd’s Treble Winners – Beckham, Yorke, Cole
David Beckham was also no stranger to driving infractions. In 1999, at the height of his career, Beckham accumulated eight points on his license for driving at 76mph on a 50mph A-road in Stockport.
He faced an £800 fine and an eight-month ban but successfully appealed against the ban. The judge agreed that he had been under “duress” as he sped away from a pursuing paparazzo in his Ferrari Maranello.
In an later incident in 2019, Beckham was not as fortunate when he was caught using his phone while driving, resulting in another six-month ban.
Rio Ferdinand
Rio Ferdinand has a rather extensive history of driving offenses, with a dedicated section on his Wikipedia page about them. His troubles began back in 1997 when he was found to be over the limit after a night out, leading to a one-year driving ban. This decision caused him to miss out on making his World Cup debut.
Ferdinand was later banned multiple times: once for speeding in 2002, again in 2003, and once more in 2005. He attracted media attention once again in August 2020 for a fourth ban.
Anton Ferdinand
Following in his brother’s footsteps, Anton Ferdinand also encountered legal issues behind the wheel. He faced six-month driving bans in both 2007 and 2012, with the latter being due to using his phone while driving.
Jermaine Pennant
Jermaine Pennant’s history with driving is particularly infamous. During his time at Real Zaragoza, he claimed he forgot he owned a Porsche, which accumulated several fines for being parked illegally at a train station.
In a more serious turn of events the following year, he received a suspended three-month prison sentence along with a three-year driving ban for crashing his Mercedes while admitting to drink driving, driving while disqualified, and lacking insurance.
Dietmar Hamann
Ex-Germany international Dietmar Hamann was stopped by police shortly after midnight in July 2010 and found guilty of driving under the influence, which resulted in a 16-month driving ban and a £2,000 fine. This followed a prior six-month ban he received three years earlier for failing to report a car accident.
Hugo Lloris
In 2018, French World Cup winner Hugo Lloris was involved in a memorable incident. Just a month after his team’s victory, he faced a £50,000 fine and a 20-month driving ban after being found two times over the legal limit. His vehicle was seen swerving, and police reported finding vomit in the car.
Lloris reflected, “In life, you have une epreuve [a test or trial] in front of you. New challenges and new objectives.”
Chelsea’s Current Squad
The trend of driving bans continues today. Chelsea’s current squad features several players who have faced similar penalties. Mykhailo Mudryk has a year-long ban, Enzo Fernandez received a six-month ban, and Wesley Fofana was banned for two years due to various offenses.
As seen, Leny Yoro is not alone in facing consequences for driving violations. The stories of these players highlight a recurring issue among footballers and serve as reminders that fame and fortune do not exempt anyone from the law.
