South African star Steven Pienaar was banned from driving for 12 months by a British court on Tuesday after pleading guilty to drunken driving.
The 27-year-old, a midfielder with English Premier League side Everton, was found to be nearly twice the legal limit after he was
breath-tested by police in Liverpool.
Pienaar was stopped by police in the early hours of Sunday, February 21, the day after Everton’s 3-1 win over English champions
Manchester United at Goodison Park.
Merseyside Police found Pienaar had 61 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35 micrograms.
His year-long driving disqualification could be reduced by three months if he completes a course before October 7.
Pienaar was also fined £1 000, about R12 000 for the offence and ordered to pay a further £100 fine for failing to comply with a traffic signal.
He arrived at Everton on loan in 2007 and his move from Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund was made permanent in 2009. — Sapa-AFP