Burnley confirm striker Ashley Barnes has been arrested

Burnley have come out late Thursday night to confirm in a statement that striker Ashley Barnes has been arrested by police.

The 31-year-old was stopped by police close to his home in Wilmslow, Cheshire at 3am, last Tuesday, after the Clarets had secured their Premier League status with a 2-0 win at Fulham on Monday night.

After a 4 hour booze up, he failed a breath test and was arrested by an officer, before being released on police bail to appear in court on June 14th.

He was pulled over in his £55,000 Mercedes V-Class people carrier near his home, and now the news has caught on by Sean Dyche, who is reportedly furious.

A source said: “Sean’s a strict disciplinarian and expects a lot from his senior players like Ashley.

“Several of the players spent about four hours drinking and having a laugh.

“But what is not funny is getting off the coach and climbing behind the wheel of your car. Ashley is mortified at what he has done.”

Barnes was an unused substitute in Wednesday night’s 3-0 defeat at home to Liverpool, and afterwards, a club statement was released, saying: “Burnley Football Club is aware of a police incident involving one of its players, Ashley Barnes.

“As a club with solid values and a strong community ethos, Burnley FC upholds and expects the highest standards of responsible behaviour from all its players and staff.

”Therefore, while observing the conclusion of legal proceedings, the club will be treating this matter with the upmost seriousness.

“The player will be subject to internal disciplinary procedures as a result.

“Burnley Football Club will make no further comment.”

The player, who has made more than 200 appearances for Burnley, also faces a club disciplinary hearing.

Two years ago, Barnes told how he was nicknamed “Ash-Cabs” after he and teammate Ashley Westwood bought a minibus to ferry players around.

He said: “It’s just the standard [Mercedes] Viano. Eight of us jump in most days.

“You probably don’t get many players car-sharing at most clubs but we’re such a tight group here.”

Cheshire Police said: “At around 3am on Tuesday, May 11, officers stopped a black Mercedes V220.

“The driver of the vehicle, a 31-year-old man, was arrested at the scene on suspicion of drink driving.

“Ashley Luke Barnes, of Wilmslow, was subsequently charged.”

Barnes was on the bench for Burnley’s game against Liverpool at Turf Moor last night.

Roberto Firmino, Nat Phillips and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain sealed a crucial Liverpool win at Turf Moor; Liverpool climb above Leicester into fourth place and sit in the driving seat for Champions League qualification ahead of the final day of the season

Player ratings

Burnley: Norris (5), Lowton (6), Tarkowski (7), Mee (7), Taylor (6), Brownhill (6), Cork (6), Gudmundsson (7), Westwood (7), McNeil (6), Wood (6).

Subs: Vydra (5).

Liverpool: Alisson (7), Alexander-Arnold (7), Phillips (8), Williams (6), Robertson (7), Thiago (7), Fabinho (6), Wijnaldum (6), Salah (7), Firmino (8), Mane (7).

Subs: Oxlade-Chamberlain (7), Tsimikas (n/a), Milner (n/a).

Man of the Match: Nat Phillips.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp: “It was a semi-final. We had to win the semi-final and we did. Nothing is decided yet, but we improved our position and we have the final. That’s what we needed. It’s what we deserve because this was a top performance.

“You can’t give any chance away against Burnley because of the way they play. They wanted to go for our centre-halves, but our boys did outstandingly well.

“We knew before the game it would be incredibly tough – they had about 3,500 people not on our side. Atmosphere in football is massive. The boys dealt really well with that. They didn’t get distracted – they tried to use it because noise is nice. We played a lot of good football stuff.”

Burnley manager Sean Dyche: “They’re a clinical side. They’re back purring. They showed that in patches. We created enough to score a goal. That’s been our nemesis this season. They opened us up enough to win the game.

“There’s talk about us playing a certain way but we want to be effective. We probably had more possession and created more chances than we have in a lot of games. I don’t want to be hyper-critical. It’s been a funny league this season.

“It’s brilliant to have people in here. We hope it bodes well for the future – not just in football.”

Fans reacted as Burnley confirm that striker Ashley Barnes has been arrested…

@MartinBiddulp16: He ain’t good enough now

@Officialtalkbfc: Think his time at burnley is up…

@BecksWilkinson_: I hope Dyche gives him a absolute pasting!! No excuse will ever be valid for such a reckless act!

@CJ1606: Hopefully he will be out of the door in the Summer. No longer up to it on the pitch and a disgrace off it too

@_bfcdanny: Fuck sake

@ClaretsFan94: Well, this is disappointing

@Taylor_Liam93: Get rid if true. Well, get rid anyway but even more so now.

@elpeckhamm: Such an idiot

@Chris_Horner1: Can’t believe he was in the squad tonight after doing this

@TurfCastPodcast: Wow… #twitterclarets

@reecehamilton18: Wow what an absolute disgrace he can get gone now Danny drink got booted out the door after being pissed and punched someone this is way worse!

@EnolaBFC: Like we didn’t need another reason to move on from Ashley Barnes.

@SussexClaretBFC: Really disappointed in the Ashley Barnes news. Absolutely no excuse for drink driving. Move him on this summer.

@furnessclaret: A stronger statement would’ve been dropping him from the last 3 match day squads. He played in 2 of those games as well. Very disappointed in Dyche setting such a poor example. Thought he was better than that.

@GraemeBrennan83: Sack him. Shite now anyway.

@beechy133: Release him.

@BfcBlake4: Ashley Barnes contract will probably be terminated soon enough shame tho

@waltonyeah: Ashley Barnes has long been the stupidest footballer out there

@bfcabii: ashley barnes cannot get away with this, hope his punishment from the club is severe

@jambounchained1: Ashley Barnes – fucking disgrace. Get rid.