Birmingham City release a statement with Dion Sanderson set to appear in court later this month on drink-driving charge.
The club were informed of the incident last week and decided to strip the 24 year old Blues defender of the captaincy for the match at Rotherham on Saturday, nor will he wear the armband for either of the remaining two Championship games.
Sanderson was named in the starting line-up at the weekend, like he had for the last six games under interim manager Gary Rowett.
“We had an incident last week that the club was made aware of,” Rowett said post-match. “We made the decision to change the captain. I think it was for the right reasons. That was it.”
Birmingham City defender Dion Sanderson has been charged with a drink driving offence. @WMPolice and #BCFC have issued statements to @birmingham_live. https://t.co/hsK1RPu0Da
— Birmingham City News (@BCFC_News) April 22, 2024
In a statement given to BirminghamLive, West Midlands Police said: “Dion Sanderson, 24, has been charged with drink driving and will appear before magistrates in Birmingham on 30 April. He has been bailed until that date.”
A club statement said: “The club was informed by West Midlands Police early last week that Dion Sanderson had been charged in relation to a drink-driving offence. Sanderson reported the incident to club officials on the same day.
“As a result, disciplinary action was taken by the club and the decision was made to remove the Men’s First Team captaincy from the Blues defender for the remainder of the season.
“Sanderson has apologised to his teammates for his gross error in judgement and accepts full responsibility for his actions. The matter has been dealt with internally and no further comment will be made at this time.”
AS PER GOV.UK
Drink-driving penalties
You could be imprisoned, banned from driving and face a fine if you’re found guilty of drink-driving.
The actual penalty you get is up to the magistrates who hear your case, and depends on your offence.
You may be able to reduce your ban by taking a drink-drive rehabilitation scheme (DDRS) course if you’re banned from driving for 12 months or more. It’s up to the court to offer this.
Being in charge of a vehicle while above the legal limit or unfit through drink
You may get:
– 3 months’ imprisonment
– up to £2,500 fine
– a possible driving ban
Driving or attempting to drive while above the legal limit or unfit through drink
You may get:
– 6 months’ imprisonment
– an unlimited fine
– a driving ban for at least 1 year (3 years if convicted twice in 10 years)
Refusing to provide a specimen of breath, blood or urine for analysis
You may get:
– 6 months’ imprisonment
– an unlimited fine
– a ban from driving for at least 1 year
Causing death by careless driving when under the influence of drink
You may get:
– life imprisonment
– an unlimited fine
– a ban from driving for at least 5 years
– an extended driving test before your licence is returned
– You will not automatically get your licence back if you’re a high risk offender.
Other problems you could face
A conviction for drink-driving also means:
– your car insurance costs will increase significantly
– if you drive for work, your employer will see your conviction on your licence
– you may have trouble travelling to countries like the USA
Twitter users gave their reaction as Birmingham release a statement with Dion Sanderson to appear in court on his drink-driving charge…
@TTAOut: Should never play for my club again.
@HelBanks2: Always been a favourite of mine. Feel disgusted he’s acted in this way, really let down himself and the whole of blues. Not sure how i feel about him playing the last few games tbh.
@JoshAV14: Bet he was confused as fuck when they said he’s got 3 points
@Rozzakro: Terminate his contract, the amount of love this guy was shown when on loan and when we need him to step up the most he’s out drink driving, explains his form though tbh. Not what we need right now #bcfc
@conorkeane21: Awful from the captain. Hard to see him coming back from this given how poor the team have been this year and their current position.
@B6Nigel: These might be the points that keep them up 😳
@J1875_: No need. Had my car written off a couple years ago because of a drink driver with my son in the back who was just 2 years old at the time. So seeing this really winds me up. You get paid a shed load a week, not ordering an Uber is pure ignorance. #BCFC
@maxx1875: Disappointing if anything. People will crack jokes but people die everyday from things like this. #BCFC
@justinbcfc92: Risking peoples lives! Selfish bastard!! How can the players lead by example if this is our captain 🤬
@Willbcfc1875: This just backs up what I and some others on here have said for awhile now, he’s comfortably one of the worst captains we’ve had at the blues if not the worst in recent memory #bcfc
@brummieky: What a cock. Worst captain we’ve had. Ironically, we’ve had a car crash of a season #bcfc
@DannyGav77: Drink driving Captain? Always copying the Villa
@BrummieJoeHD: No captain of mine, no example to be setting and absolutely no excuse for it.
@connor_t94: You’re taking the piss. Biggest game of the season (Rotherham) and he acts like this. I’m sick of the excuses “he’s learning on the job” I don’t care man he’s captain get him gone. #bcfc
@LeeAHinton95: Wonderful actions from our club captain, at any stage, let alone in the middle of a relegation battle. Glad he has been stripped of captaincy. No excuse for behaviour like that. #bcfc
@1875JA: Just get an Uber, you’re paid enough to not have to worry about taxi fares.
@willviles: Just a reminder that Knighthead & Garry Cook came in and set the bar at ‘World Class’, yet our club captain behaves like this. Illustrates exactly how far away we are at #bcfc from having a winning culture & mentality and how crucial this summer’s recruitment will be.
@CS__UTV: He is going to have more points than Blues away this season 😭
@mickyh01: This season just get worse and worse. Just finish it now. This shows total lack of professionalism, just get him out the club in summer. This club is bigger and better than this, we don’t need this sort of person at this club. Get him gone
@smiffy1875: Tbf he’s been playing like he’s been on the piss all season.
@Kieranbcfc2: Never acceptable but to act like that when you captain of a football club and should be a role model to your teammates and fans is awful. Quite clear he’s still very much a young lad finding his way, that doesn’t allow for this though. #bcfc
@CYMRU270: About time they got 3 points on the road
@NatJPeters: He’s out of order and I get the captaincy being taken off him for now. But we’ve had players do far worse and play for us. Those calling for him to be dropped/sacked need to get real. Right now, he could waterboard a puppy on live TV & I’d pick him ahead of Roberts or Aiwu #bcfc
@Goulding_23: I’m going to reserve judgement until the full story is told, but It’s absolutely incomprehensible to me that people on minimum wage can get Ubers home but people on thousands of pounds a week decide not to.
@carolbradycpcm: I find it an abhorrent act and total disregard for the lives of others. Not only should he never have gotten behind the wheel but if found guilty he shouldn’t pull on a blues shirt again. There is just no excuse
@Paulwhite19801: Why on earth would you the. Go out on Saturday night. Just keep your head down wouldn’t you 🤦🏻♂️
@MarkWatson1875: We HAMMERED Grealish for this a few years ago. Now Dion Sanderson can equally fuck off 👍
@blooz_az: We hammered Grealish and the derby players for this. Should never captain us again and probably never play again.
@jdkinsella: He should never put the shirt on again. Get rid
@elwell_alan: All the money they earn and they can’t afford a bloody taxi 💙🤦🏼♂️
@TomEd_1999: Should be nowhere near the team now, Tom. Definitely get rid in the summer.
@Tolkienista3: As a highly paid professional footballer what was wrong with him getting into a taxi to finish his journey. I know the horrendous consequences of drink driving having lost a close friend to a driver well over the limit who ploughed into her stationery car.
Would prefer to avoid the Dion Sanderson stuff.
He clearly needs to sort his shit out. Own up & face the consequences. Stripped of captaincy. Court date. Good.
Calls for him to be sacked? This is man we employed a few months back.#BCFC #KRO https://t.co/Gnosr0adn1
— Ryan Deeney (@RyanDeeney2194) April 23, 2024
🤣🤣🤣 #wba https://t.co/JNZKPZgr7U pic.twitter.com/CmO3uX9YdJ
— Mikey (@mikeyp2551) April 22, 2024
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