Four West Brom players apologise for 'stealing taxi in Spain'
Four senior team players for Albion were questioned by police after a cab was allegedly stolen in Barcelona.
Friday 16 February 2018 23:31, UK
West Bromwich Albion players Gareth Barry, Jonny Evans, Jake Livermore and Boaz Myhill have apologised after a taxi was allegedly stolen in Barcelona.
In a statement, they said: "We would like to take this opportunity to apologise to our team mates, the head coach, the club and especially the supporters for the events which have been the subject of widespread and negative publicity.
"We felt it important we identify ourselves out of respect for team-mates who otherwise could be implicated by association."
The football club has confirmed it is investigating an alleged stolen taxi incident that may have involved four senior players in Spain.
It was responding to reports that its players were questioned by police on suspicion of stealing a cab after a night out during a mid-winter training trip this week.
According to a report in The Sun, the cab was driven through a McDonald's drive-thru before being abandoned outside of the five-star hotel where the players were staying.
In a statement, the Premier League club said it has "instigated its own investigation into the incident and the players will be subject to the full rigours of our internal disciplinary procedures".
"Until such time as that investigation has been completed, the club will not be making any further comment."
The four players were questioned in a local police station over the incident, which happened before dawn on Thursday.
They were staying at The One hotel for a three-day training trip in Barcelona ahead of an FA Cup fifth round tie at home to Southampton on Saturday.
The regional police in Catalonia, the Mossos d'Esquadra police, have confirmed the incident.
A source told The Sun: "It appears the players had headed to the Barcelona Olympic Port but found everything closed so late on which is normal for midweek.
"They decided to take a taxi to a McDonald's drive-through nearby and somehow and for some reason, left there in the cab but without the cab driver.
"The receptionist at the hotel they were staying at phoned police when she saw the taxi had been left unattended outside."
West Brom are currently at the bottom of the Premier League table, five points behind Stoke in 19th, and seven away from escaping the relegation zone.
The club's chairman, John Williams, and chief executive, Martin Goodman, were sacked this week because of the team's poor performances.