Newcastle’s Joelinton has been banned from driving for 12 months and fined £31,085 after pleading guilty to drink-driving during a court appearance on Tyneside on Thursday.
The 26-year-old Brazilian will have his driving licence returned after nine months if he completes a drink-driving rehabilitation course. The midfielder or forward, a £40m signing from Hoffenheim in 2019, was driving from Newcastle city centre to his home in the Northumberland village of Ponteland in his black Mercedes when, at almost 1.20am on 12 January, police officers pulled him over for suspected speeding.
Joelinton told the officers he had drunk two glasses of wine and was breathalysed at the roadside. A reading of 43mcg dictated he failed the test – the legal limit is 35mcg – and the player was arrested.
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The appearance before Newcastle upon Tyne magistrates court came less than 36 hours after Joelinton, a key member of Newcastle’s high-flying team, scored the decisive goal as they won the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final at Southampton.
Although Eddie Howe has said the club will discipline Joelinton “internally” it would be a surprise if he were dropped for the return on Tuesday.
Geoffrey Forrester, defending, told the court Joelinton believed he was under the legal alcohol limit: “He was utterly calm and compliant at the scene and at the police station,” he said. “He’s apologised to all concerned and, if he could turn the clock back, he would.”
The district judge, Paul Currer, told the Brazilian he “sincerely hopes” he has learned a lesson. “This offending could, potentially, have had disastrous consequences for the lives of others, as well as yourself.”
Joelinton’s fine – comprising a basic £29,000 plus a £2,000 surcharge and £85 costs – was calculated after the judge was given access to documents that showed the player’s basic weekly wage is £43,000.
Shortly after leaving court Joelinton issued a public apology on Instagram, with his words set against a black backdrop. “Hi everyone,” he wrote. “I want to acknowledge that I made a mistake and to apologise to all the fans of Newcastle and the people of this city. My actions unintentionally put other people in danger. For that I am sorry. I will learn lessons from this incident and will do everything I can to be a role model for my family, for football and for society.”
During lockdown, Joelinton was fined £200 after breaching government restrictions in order to have his hair cut.
