Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Hugo Lloris was charged for drink-driving after a routine patrol stop on Friday, August 24. The French international was taken to Charing Cross police station and put in a cell after giving his fingerprints and a DNA swab.
As per the Telegraph, a Metropolitan Police statement said: “A man has been charged following a routine patrol stop in Gloucester Place, W1. Hugo Lloris, 31, of East Finchley, was charged with drink driving on Friday, 24 August. He has been bailed to return to Westminster magistrates’ court on Tuesday 11 September.”
The shot-stopper has since made an apology and Tottenham have stated they will discipline him sternly for the incident, but there are reports suggesting he will still start against Manchester United in Monday night’s trip to Old Trafford. Lloris is club captain and a very important player, but why aren’t Spurs making an example of him?
Drink-driving costs lives, and his actions could have results in casualties. To allow him back into the team would send the wrong message to the players, regardless of how much he’s apologised or is liked among the squad. Had this been committed by a fringe player, there’s no question they’d be dropped.
Ahead of Monday night’s meeting with Manchester United, Tottenham are sixth in the Premier League table with six points from their first two games. Spurs beat Newcastle United (2-1) and Fulham (3-1) and are fancied by many to get a result at Old Trafford.
However, manager Mauricio Pochettino may feel he needs his best goalkeeper to achieve this, rather than trust Michel Vorm. Lloris will certainly receive a big fine for his transgression and could lose the captaincy, but it’s still punishments that are lenient.
Poch has been hard on players in the past, notably dropping Kyle Walker before he eventually left to join Manchester City, but it seems he won’t do the same for Lloris. There could be many supporters whose lives have ben directly or indirectly affected by drink-driving who would welcome a real punishment being dolled out on a player, but Tottenham could resist it.
Lloris missed training with Tottenham the following day because he was in police custody and could yet lose his driving licence in September’s court case. Spurs have a big opportunity to put principles first ahead of Monday night’s game with Manchester United by dropping their captain, but does Pochettino have the guts to do it? Should Tottenham throw the book at Lloris?
